WALES

Coastal Emergencies

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding placing planning for coastal emergencies on a statutory footing in Wales.

Paul Murphy: None.

Respite Facilities

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the provision of respite facilities in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I discuss health issues on a regular basis with the First Minister and the Health and Social Services Minister.
	The principal services providers of respite facilities in Wales are: the social services department of local authorities; the NHS; the voluntary sector; and the independent care home sector.

Refrigerators

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what facilities are in operation in Wales to recycle refrigerators in accordance with the EU Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations 2037/2000.

Don Touhig: I meet regularly with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues including recycling.
	It is expected that two facilities for the recovery of ozone depleting substances from refrigerators and freezers will be operational in Wales by the end of the year.
	Responsibility for disposal lies with the local authorities, with the policy responsibility resting with the National Assembly for Wales.

Millennium Stadium

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Home Department about additional resources for the policing of events of national significance at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with colleagues about a number of issues affecting Wales, including policing matters.
	In recognition of additional policing costs arising in Cardiff while major football matches are being played at the Millennium Stadium, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has approved special payments of £300,000 to South Wales police in both 2001–02 and 2002–03.

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with (a) the National Assembly and (b) his Cabinet colleagues about cross-border access to higher and further education.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with colleagues to discuss a range of issues, including access to higher and further education.

M4 and Severn Bridge Closures

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the recent closures of the M4 and Severn Bridge.

Paul Murphy: I recently had the pleasure of meeting my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards) to discuss this issue. I have received no other representations on this matter.

Family Farms

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the future viability of small family farms in Wales.

Paul Murphy: None. Such assessments are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales, who have responsibility for agriculture in Wales.
	I do, however, have regular discussions with the First Minister, which include agricultural matters.
	The National Assembly has launched "Farming for the Future: a New Direction for Farming in Wales"—a distinctively Welsh agriculture strategy produced with the help and support of the industry. The strategy recognises the importance of family farms; gives prominence to developing high quality produce; and most importantly, sets out a vision based on sustainability in all its aspects—economically, environmentally and socially.

Unemployment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the level of unemployment in North Wales.

Paul Murphy: The Government's long-term ambition is that by the end of the decade there will be a higher proportion of people in work than ever before.
	The latest labour market statistics, published last Friday, show that we are making excellent progress—3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before. The statistics also show that claimant rates are down compared to a year before across the whole of North Wales.

Unemployment

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect in Wales of Government measures to create job opportunities for unemployed people.

Paul Murphy: Employment measures such as the New Deal have been a huge success in Wales and we have seen a 65 per cent. fall in youth claimants and a 58 per cent. fall in long-term claimants since those policies were introduced. The latest labour market statistics for Wales, published last Friday, show that 3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before.

Regeneration

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary regarding economic regeneration in towns.

Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues including economic regeneration in towns.
	The Welsh Development Agency published its community regeneration policy for Wales in May 2000. The document sets out an area-based approach to community regeneration, integrating economic, social, cultural and environmental measures.
	Building on its Market Towns Initiative, Small Towns and Villages Initiative and earlier work on both urban and rural regeneration, the WDA has developed a community regeneration toolkit, providing both revenue and capital support. This allows for mixing and matching of a number of support mechanisms for community regeneration.
	SMEs in WDA project areas can also access the WDA's mainstream grant schemes, for example town improvement grants and environmental improvement grants.

Crime

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about the impact in Wales of measures to reduce crime.

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department about the impact in Wales of measures to reduce crime.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with colleagues about a number of issues that impact on Wales.
	Tackling crime is a priority for the Government. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales regularly meets the Crime Reduction Director for Wales, Mr. David A'Herne, who is charged with taking forward our key policies and initiatives aimed at fighting crime and disorder. Our co-ordinated approach is making a marked difference in communities throughout Wales.

Departmental Representation

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how often, in the last year, his office has been represented on Cabinet committees dealing with home affairs.

Paul Murphy: Both my hon. Friend and I are members of committees dealing with home affairs, which we attend on a regular basis.

Appeals Service

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Appeals Service in Wales to ensure that bilingual medical officers are available to users.

Don Touhig: Responsibility for the Appeals Service rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Persons are appointed to the appeal tribunal panel, including those medically qualified, by my right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor. Operational matters rest with the chief executive of the Appeals Service.
	Where an appeal tribunal requires a medically qualified panel member it is normally the case that the panel member will reside locally. However it will not always be the case that the medically qualified panel member will be bilingual. An interpreter will be made available where necessary.

Red Dragon Project

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the Red Dragon project; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues at the Ministry of Defence.
	Very little has changed since my earlier reply to a parliamentary question from the hon. Gentleman. The Welsh Development Agency continues to work with the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) and Defence Estates on the proposals to develop the site facilities, including the possibility of establishing an aerospace park at St. Athan.
	There have been seven public meetings so far and I understand that the Ministry of Defence will continue to work closely with the local community, to keep it informed of developments as they take shape.

Agriculture

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next expects to meet representatives of the National Assembly for Wales to discuss agriculture.

Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a regular basis and we often discuss agriculture. I also frequently meet the Welsh Assembly Rural Affairs Minister, as does the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, as part of his rolling programme of quarterly liaison meetings.

Employment

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on employment levels in North Wales.

Paul Murphy: The Government's long-term ambition is that by the end of the decade there will be a higher proportion of people in work than ever before.
	The latest labour market statistics, published last Friday, show that we are making excellent progress—3,000 more people in Wales are in work, compared to a year before. The statistics also show that claimant rates are down compared to a year before across the whole of North Wales.

Coal Subsidies

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the extension of the subsidy to coal produced beyond July 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and discuss a range of issues including coal state aid, and understand the deep concerns of the people of Wales about the coal industry.
	A new European framework for coal state aid, post July 2002, was agreed at the Energy Council on 7 June. We are particularly pleased, that we have been successful in negotiating the flexibility to pay investment aid, where appropriate. This allows support to be given for the development of economically viable mines. The new framework provides us with the basis on which to decide the future of coal policy in the UK, but discussion on the future of UK aid is still ongoing.

Elderly Care

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary for Health and Social Services in the National Assembly for Wales about the funding of free care for the elderly in Wales.

Paul Murphy: I am aware of this matter but, thus far, I have not received any official request from the Assembly to discuss this issue with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services.

European Capital of Culture

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on Cardiff's bid to become the European capital of culture.

Don Touhig: Cardiff is Europe's youngest capital, a multicultural city which serves a country rich in both traditional and contemporary culture. Sense of place is a defining quality of Welsh culture. Our locality and our community is a strong part of our identity. Cardiff's European capital of culture bid looks at the new ways that the city can work for the people and the cultural communities across the whole of Wales, and my right hon. Friend and I wholeheartedly endorse it.

Health Service Auditing

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the auditing of the health service in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend has discussed this issue with both the Assembly First Minister and the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn). I have also discussed it with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services.
	The First Minister and the Welsh Assembly Cabinet are content, in principle, to the proposed amalgamation of the Commission for Health and Improvement (CHI) and the Audit Commission which are England and Wales bodies. It will be necessary to make sure that this works properly and effectively for Wales, and those detailed issues will be addressed during the framing of the necessary legislation.

Farming

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the First Secretary to discuss farming.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend has a weekly meeting with the First Minister at which a range of issues are discussed. I also have regular meetings with the Assembly Rural Affairs Minister.

PRIME MINISTER

Zimbabwe

Win Griffiths: To ask the Prime Minister if he plans to request a recall of his Commonwealth counterparts to consider the developing situation in Zimbabwe.

Tony Blair: The Commonwealth Troika of Australia, Nigeria and South Africa suspended Zimbabwe from the Councils of the Commonwealth on 19 March 2002. The Troika had been mandated by Heads of Government to address Commonwealth concerns on Zimbabwe. Its decision will be reviewed after 12 months. We welcomed the Troika's decision to suspend Zimbabwe at the time, and support the ongoing efforts of Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo, and Prime Minister Howard, to resolve Zimbabwe's political problems.
	The Troika set out what Zimbabwe needs to do for the suspension to be lifted. It also decided to facilitate dialogue between Zimbabwe's two main political parties so that legitimacy could be restored in Zimbabwe. Talks, facilitated by South Africa and Nigeria, were scheduled for 13 May but the ruling party withdrew at the last moment. We await further information on whether or not the dialogue will be resumed.
	The wider Commonwealth remains engaged on Zimbabwe, as does the Secretary-General. Zimbabwe was discussed at the meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 15–17 May in Botswana. We continue to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe with a range of Commonwealth partners.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002 special advisers of (a) the Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and (b) Minister without Portfolio and Party Chairman have travelled abroad in an official capacity.

Tony Blair: None.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of ordinary written questions for his Office were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

Tony Blair: Information on the written parliamentary questions answered in this period is as follows:
	
		
			  Month Percentage of named day questions answered on day named Percentage of ordinary written questions answered within five working days 
		
		
			 June 43 73 
			 July 94 95 
			 October 79 90 
			 November 66 85 
			 December 91 100 
			 January 95 85 
			 February 84 72 
			 March 82 75 
			 April 88 84 
			 May 97 83

Computers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Prime Minister what measures are (a) in place and (b) under discussion in his Office in order to ensure compliance with the WEE directive.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry on 12 June 2002.

Computers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Prime Minister how many computers were replaced in his Office in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost.

Tony Blair: The general policy is that computers in No. 10 have a three-year life cycle. On average, 60 have been replaced in each of the last three years. Since 2002, the replaced units, minus the hard drive, are given to charity. Costs of this can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

G8 Summit

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Prime Minister if he will prioritise debt cancellation at the G8 summit in Canada; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The UK has consistently been at the forefront of international progress on debt relief. The Government played a key role in securing agreement for the enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative at the Cologne summit in 1999, that aims to deliver a sustainable exit from debt for the world's poorest countries. At the G8 summit in Canada, the UK will continue to promote this aim and urge the G8, under the leadership of the Canadian Government, to make further progress on debt relief and ensure poor countries have a sustainable exit from debt. Ahead of the summit, the UK has outlined a number of proposals to strengthen HIPC, and in particular, has called for richer countries to provide an additional financial contribution for the HIPC initiative.
	The G8 committed last year to looking at how their policies can support African efforts to reduce poverty and bring sustainable development to the continent. African countries have been engaged in developing the New Partnership for Africa's Development, which highlights the importance of sound political and economic governance. The UK has been active in arguing further concrete action, building on our existing strategies for conflict prevention and resolution, health and education, and of the importance of market access for African products. The G8 will come back with proposals in Kananaskis.

Staff Numbers

John Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff were employed by his Office on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002.

Tony Blair: As of the start of the financial year, at 1 April 2002, there were 190 staff on the No. 10 payroll.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 8W.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what evidence he has received of Iraqi involvement in the anthrax mail attacks in the United States; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: We have no evidence linking Iraq with the recent anthrax attacks in the United States.
	Investigations into who was responsible for the anthrax attacks and into the source of the anthrax itself are still continuing in the United States. We await the outcome of these investigations.

Unpaid Advisers

Phil Willis: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 620W, on unpaid advisers, if he will list the steps that were taken to ensure no conflicts of interest arose as a result of these appointments.

Tony Blair: Paragraph 51 of the Ministerial Code sets out the processes for appointing unpaid advisers, including the handling of any conflict of interests.

DEFENCE

Performance Targets

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the performance targets that his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet, apart from those set out in the public service agreements for 1999 to 2002 and 2001 to 2004; and if he will specify for each target (a) who sets it and (b) who monitors achievement against it.

Lewis Moonie: The performance targets that the Ministry of Defence is required to meet are those contained in the Department's Public Service Agreement and its underpinning Service Delivery Agreement. These targets are captured in the MOD's performance management framework—the Defence Balanced Scorecard. The scorecard also tracks high-level internal objectives on which PSA performance depends. The Defence Management Board reviews the scorecard annually, and monitors performance against it on a quarterly basis.
	Key targets for the 36 Defence Agencies are still being finalised for financial year 2002–03, and are being announced to Parliament as and when they are agreed. Defence Ministers approve all agency key targets, taking into account past performance. Agency performance is monitored during the year by the agency's nominated "owner" within MOD, and is published in the agencies' annual reports. More information on performance can be obtained from the appropriate agency chief executive.
	Information on the performance of the MOD's seven executive non-departmental public bodies is published in their annual reports.

Armed Forces (Suicides)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 473W, on armed forces personnel (deaths on military premises), (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the suicides involved a person below (i) 18 and (ii) 21.

Adam Ingram: The data detailed in the table represent the number of armed forces personnel, whose deaths were recorded as suicides, which involved personnel below 18,21 and over 21 years respectively.
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Under 18   
			 1994 0 0 
			 1995 0 0 
			 1996 0 0 
			 1997 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 
			 All years 0 0 
			
			 Under 21   
			 1994 5 17 
			 1995 2 10 
			 1996 4 17 
			 1997 5 24 
			 1998 2 18 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 2 20 
			 2001 1 33 
			 All years 21 17 
			
			 21 and over   
			 1994 25 83 
			 1995 18 90 
			 1996 20 83 
			 1997 16 76 
			 1998 9 82 
			 1999 9 100 
			 2000 8 80 
			 2001 2 67 
			 All years 107 83 
			 All ages   
			 1994 30 100 
			 1995 20 100 
			 1996 24 100 
			 1997 21 100 
			 1998 11 100 
			 1999 9 100 
			 2000 10 100 
			 2001 3 100 
			 All years 128 100 
		
	
	Figures for reported suicides are subject to revision as further coroner's verdicts are reported to the Defence Analytical Services Agency.
	Verdicts of suicide are determined by Her Majesty's coroner.

Armed Forces (Suicides)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 942W, on firearm deaths, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the members of HM Forces whose deaths were recorded as a result of firearms incidents were (i) also recorded as suicide or self-inflicted deaths and (ii) below (A) 18 and (B) 21 years old.

Adam Ingram: Those members of the armed forces whose deaths, as a result of firearm related incidents, were recorded as suicide and those who were below and over 21 years of age respectively, are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Suicide   
			 Under 21   
			 1994 4 15 
			 1995 2 10 
			 1996 4 24 
			 1997 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 1 10 
			 2001 0 0 
			 Total 11 11 
			
			 21 and over   
			 1994 8 30 
			 1995 6 30 
			 1996 5 29 
			 1997 3 60 
			 1998 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 
			 Total 22 23 
			
			 Suicide total   
			 1994 12 44 
			 1995 8 40 
			 1996 9 53 
			 1997 3 60 
			 1998 0 0 
			 1999 0 0 
			 2000 1 10 
			 2001 0 0 
			 Total 33 34 
			  Other deaths due to firearms 
			 1994 15 56 
			 1995 12 60 
			 1996 8 47 
			 1997 2 40 
			 1998 1 100 
			 1999 7 100 
			 2000 9 90 
			 2001 9 100 
			 Total 63 66 
			
			 Total   
			 1994 27 100 
			 1995 20 100 
			 1996 17 100 
			 1997 5 100 
			 1998 1 100 
			 1999 7 100 
			 2000 10 100 
			 2001 9 100 
			 Total 96 100 
		
	
	In total, 33 of the 96 firearm related deaths have been recorded as suicide. Cause of death can by determined only by Her Majesty's Coroner, therefore, deaths due to firearms excluding suicides may include deaths where a coroner's verdict is awaited. There have been no confirmed suicides in personnel aged under the age of 18 years in the years specified.

Pakistan Ordnance Factories

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2002, Official Report, column 175W, on Pakistan ordnance factories, if he has ascertained the exact amount of training provided under the technology transfer and training arrangements with Pakistan ordnance factories for the manufacturing of the 105mm L64 Tungsten core Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot tank ammunition.

Lewis Moonie: As previously stated, arrangements between the Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF) and the Pakistani Ordnance Factories (POF) related to assistance with the production of 105mm and L64 tank ammunition. As part of this assistance
	"suitable periods of training . . . in the United Kingdom on manufacturing, inspection and proof techniques" for that ammunition were available to the POF. Despite extensive searches of Defence archives, and the archives of Royal Ordnance Defence plc (ROD), it has not been possible to find definitive information relating to the exact nature or quantity of the training provided.
	Further inquiries by officials into this subject could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Licence Production Agreements (Iran)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what licence production agreements have been signed with the (a) Ammunition Industries Group (Iran) and (b) Defence Industries Organisation of Iran for the production of L2A2 rubber or plastic baton rounds since 1972;
	(2)  what licence production agreements have been signed with Iran for the production of (a) rubber and (b) plastic baton rounds since 1972.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not hold systematic records of commercial licence agreements. A more detailed search in files going back to 1972 could be provided only at disproportionate cost and any commercially confidential information would be protected under third party's commercial confidences in Part II Section 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Defence Costs

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total cost in the current financial year of providing and maintaining the Royal Navy's ballistic missile submarine fleet.

Adam Ingram: The estimated total cost for the current financial year of providing and maintaining the Royal Navy's ballistic missile submarine fleet including the costs of manpower and facilities is expected to be about 3 per cent. of the total defence budget.

Defence Costs

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost in the current financial year of maintaining the capability to research, design, produce, store, move and carry out decommissioning of the British stock of nuclear weapons.

Adam Ingram: The estimated cost for these items in the current financial year is about one per cent. of the total defence budget.

Tornado

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if AMRAAM has been equipped on Tornado F3 flying on operations.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently no Tornado F3 aircraft equipped with the advanced medium range air-to-air missile flying on operations.

Tanks

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Challenger 2 tanks are allocated to each tank regiment in the British Army; and how many are off-road in each case;
	(2)  how many Scimitars there are in the British Army; and how many are off-road;
	(3)  how many Warrior armoured personnel carriers are allocated to each armoured infantry regiment in the British Army; and how many are off-road in each case.

Adam Ingram: The numbers of Challenger 2 tanks and Warrior armoured personnel carriers allocated to tank and armoured infantry regiments in the British Army and their availability are shown in the tables.
	
		Challenger 2
		
			 Regiment Allocated Not fully operational 
		
		
			 The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards 48 9 
			 2nd Royal Tank Regiment 44 8 
			 The Royal Dragoon Guards 44 16 
			 The Queen's Royal Hussars 30 13 
			 The Queen's Royal Lancers 54 18 
			 The King's Royal Hussars 44 0 
			  
			 Total 264 64 
		
	
	
		Warrior
		
			 Battalion (Bn) Allocated Not fully operational 
		
		
			 1st Bn The Irish Guards 53 7 
			 1st Bn The Duke of Wellington's Regiment 44 22 
			 1st Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 54 3 
			 1st Bn The Black Watch 53 13 
			 1st Bn The Royal Regiment of Wales 18 0 
			 1st Bn The Light Infantry 35 8 
			 1st Bn The Staffordshire Regiment 39 3 
			 1st Bn The King's Regiment 31 8 
			 1st Bn The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment 39 14 
			  
			 Total 366 78 
		
	
	The information is recorded quarterly and the figures represent the position as at 31 March 2002.
	As at 31 March 2002, 64 of the 316 Scimitars in the British Army were reported not to be fully operational.
	The overall totals for vehicle types are broadly in line with availability targets and, as shown in the following table, vehicle availability has improved significantly, particularly in the case of the Challenger 2, since the last return in December last year.
	
		
			  Equipment type  
			  Challenger 2 Warrior Scimitars 
		
		
			 Total fleet 264 366 316 
			 % operational 31 December 2001 62 72 83 
			 % operational 31 March 2002 76 79 80 
			 % target availability 80 75 70 
		
	
	In addition, it should be noted that if any of the units were required to deploy on operations, any shortfalls would be made good to ensure that the units deployed with a full complement of vehicles.

Fighter Combat Training

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with which foreign aircraft types RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots have participated in fighter combat training in the past 24 months.

Adam Ingram: The following list details the foreign aircraft types with which RAF and Fleet Air Arm pilots have participated in fighter combat training in the past 24 months:
	Tornado F3, PA200
	BAe Hawk, Hawk 200
	Sepecat Jaguar
	Dassault Mirage F1, Mirage 2000
	Dassault Super Etendard
	Douglas A-4K Skyhawk
	General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark
	General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
	Grumman F-14 Tomcat
	Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
	McDonnell Douglas AV8B Harrier II
	McDonnell Douglas F-15, F-15C, F-15E Eagle
	McDonnell Douglas F-18, CF-18 Hornet
	Mig-29
	North American F4 Phantom
	Northrop F5 Freedom Fighter
	Saab Viggen
	Sukhoi Su-22.

Fighter Combat Training

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF armed Fleet Air Arm squadrons have participated in fighter combat training exercises with overseas air forces in the past 24 months.

Adam Ingram: The following table details the fast jet squadrons that have participated in fighter combat training exercises in the past 24 months:
	
		
			 Aircraft type Squadron number 
		
		
			 Tornado F3 11, 25, 43, 111 
			 Tornado GR1/4 2, 9, 12, 13, 14, 31, 617 
			 Harrier GR7 1, 3, 4 
			 Harrier FA2 800, 801, 899 
			 Jaguar 6, 41, 54

Educational Allowances

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what was the uptake of individual educational allowances in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what categories of educational opportunity the IEA has been used for since 1997;
	(3)  what would be the total cost of individual educational allowances if each serviceman made use of it;
	(4)  what the value is to an individual serviceman of the individual education allowance;
	(5)  if he will make a statement about individual educational allowances for the armed services.

Adam Ingram: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to what is now known as the learning credits scheme. This scheme comprises two forms of allowance: standard learning credits and enhanced learning credits.
	The standard learning credits scheme (SLC) was launched on 1 April 1999 and operates on similar lines to the individual refund scheme (IRS) it replaced, but its value, £175 per year, is 25 per cent. higher. Individuals must contribute at least 20 per cent. of the cost of any learning for which it is claimed. The SLC can, therefore, fund up to 80 per cent. of the cost of learning. This 80/20 split encourages development of individual understanding and buy-in to the learning process.
	Both the SLC and the IRS which preceded it are applicable to a wide range of learning purposes in support of an individual's personal development. The only limitation is that the learning must have a benefit to the services, but, in practice, this still allows almost all forms of development. A representative list of the range of courses includes:
	GCSE—e.g. Maths, English, Psychology, Physics, Accounting, Geography
	A-Level—e.g. Law, Sociology, Economics
	AS Levels—French
	OU modules
	Degrees
	City and Guilds teaching certificates for basic skills
	Book keeping and accounts
	Business studies
	Accounting
	Counselling
	Sports therapy
	Human physiology and health
	NVQs of all types
	Language training
	Computer courses
	European computer driving licence
	Microsoft Office user specialist
	IT practitioner courses
	C++ programming
	Windows 2000 networking
	Microsoft Project.
	The uptake of IRS/SLC since 1997 for the armed forces is shown in the table.
	
		
			 FY Number of claimants Trained strength of armed forces Claimants as a percentage of trained strength 
		
		
			 1997–98 (1)8,297 (2)97,523 8.5 
			 1998–99 11,580 192,155 6 
			 1999–2000 12,773 189,574 6.7 
			 2000–01 21,779 187,874 11.6 
			 2001–02 24,550 186,610 13.2 
		
	
	(1) Army figures unavailable.
	(2) Excludes Army.
	The second part of learning credits, which will be known as enhanced learning credits (ELC), complements the SLC scheme and is due to be launched on 1 April 2004. This is an imaginative and large-scale initiative to provide partial funding for personnel wishing to undertake academic or vocational education for their own personal development. ELC will enable personnel to access a considerably higher level of sponsorship than SLC and is available for a maximum of three claims (one in each of three separate years which need not be consecutive) during a service person's career and for up to 10 years after leaving the service.
	The ELC scheme requires a minimum period of service in order to qualify and there are two levels of claim depending on length of service. The initial qualification period is four years' service after which an individual can claim the lower tier level of funding (£1,000 pa). A further four years' service allows access to the higher tier of funding (£2,000 pa). As with the SLC scheme, an individual must show commitment to learning by funding at least 20 per cent. of the overall cost.
	The enhanced learning credit scheme will enable the individual to make substantial plans for self improvement in a coherent and long-term fashion and will also encourage employing officers to factor major lifelong learning activities into a subordinate's personal development plan. This will have a positive effect on retention of personnel who wish to lay the foundations for success in their second career while maximising their military potential.
	Based on the strength of the armed forces on 1 April 2002 (204,686) and the maximum available credit (£175) the total cost of SLC if every service person were to apply would be some £36 million. However, this does not take account of personnel on operations or already in intensive training who would be unlikely to claim; moreover, it does not reflect the historical take-up of the SLC scheme. Taking this into account, and using the latest figures in the table, a more realistic total cost would be some £4 million.

Elementary Flying Training

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to continue RAF involvement in (a) the Joint Elementary Flying Training Service and (b) university air squadrons; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The RAF's Director of Elementary Flying Training is, and will continue to be, responsible for the Joint Elementary Flying Training School (JEFTS). JEFTS provides elementary flying training (EFT) for all three services (except for RAF graduate entrants who have completed EFT at a university air squadron), flying grading for the Army and multi-engine aircraft lead-in training for the RAF. RAF EFT is undertaken at RAF Church Fenton, Royal Navy and Army EFT is undertaken at RAF Barkston Heath, multi-engine lead-in training is undertaken at RAF Cranwell and flying grading for the Army is undertaken at the School of Army Aviation at Middle Wallop.
	JEFTS use Firefly aircraft to meet all their training needs and these aircraft are provided by Babcock HCS. The contract to provide these aircraft expires on 7 July 2003. There is a need for a short four-year replacement contract to allow for the potential change to the way flying training will be delivered under the United Kingdom Military Flying Training System project planned to commence in 2007. The cost-effective way to deliver the task for the next four years is to undertake the RAF element of the EFT task at university air squadrons, where the majority of RAF pilots already undertake their EFT. The university air squadrons can absorb this work with only a small increase in activity at individual air squadrons, and it will result in a significant overall saving on the cost of providing EFT. The balance of the JEFTS task has been completed and the new contract will be let shortly.
	The RAF will continue to maintain university air squadrons under the command of the Director of Elementary Flying Training. The RAF have recently undertaken a review of RAF university air Squadron flying and ground training to recommend how university air squadrons could better meet the needs of the RAF and of undergraduates. The outcome of this review will be available soon and it is expected to recommend some improvements to the UAS operations, without making changes to the present structure.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has had from the Government of Nepal concerning the Maoist rebellion; what advice his Department has offered; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 17 June 2002, Official Report, columns 3–5, to my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) and the Members for Newark (Patrick Mercer) and for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth).

Jubilee Medal

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the membership of the ministerial group for the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and which members will receive the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	The membership of this group, which I chair, is being adjusted to reflect the recent changes of ministerial responsibilities. The previous membership was as follows:
	President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
	Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions
	Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office
	Secretary of State, Wales Office
	Secretary of State, Scotland Office
	Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Secretary of State for Education and Skills
	Minister for Sport, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Minister of State, Cabinet Office
	Financial Secretary, HM Treasury
	Minister of State for the Armed Forces
	Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department
	Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	Parliamentary Secretary, Home Office
	Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions
	First Minister, Scottish Executive
	First Minister, National Assembly for Wales
	Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland Executive
	Private Secretary to Her Majesty The Queen
	The Mayor of London
	Head of the Golden Jubilee Office.
	The Queen's Private Secretary received a medal as a member of the Royal Household.

NATO

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his meeting with his NATO counterparts on 14 and 15 May in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Reykjavik was an important step in the Alliance's preparation for the NATO Summit in Prague in November. Ministers agreed on the need further to adapt the Alliance to enhance its capacity to provide defence against the threat of terrorism; on the need to develop new defence capabilities; on the process for the enlargement of NATO; on the creation of a new security relationship with Russia; and on the development of NATO's relationships with Ukraine and its other partners.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Credit Unions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will authorise Consignia and Post Office Counters to act as collection points for credit unions; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Neither Consignia or Post Office Ltd. require the authorisation of the Secretary of State to act as collection points for credit unions. Whether they do so is a commercial matter for Consignia and Post Office Ltd.

Employment Tribunal Cases

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment tribunal claims, where a deposit at a preliminary hearing was required as a condition of proceeding, were proceeded to a full hearing in (a) 2001 and (b) to date; and in how many such cases the (i) claimant won, (ii) case was withdrawn and (iii) case was settled before a full hearing.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is displayed in the table.
	
		
			  2001 (3)2002 
		
		
			 Number of cases which withdrew after a PHR deposit order 43 14 
			 Number of cases which settled after a PHR deposit order 4 3 
			 Number of cases which proceeded to a full hearing after a PHR deposit order 17 0 
			 Of which, successful at full hearing 0 0 
		
	
	(3) Only covers the period from 1 January 2002 to 30 April 2002
	Source:
	Employment Tribunals Service

Employment Tribunal Cases

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in employment tribunal cases in 2001 where parties were required to pay a deposit, what the mean average deposit was at preliminary hearings as a condition of continuing to proceed with the case.

Alan Johnson: The mean average deposit required at a pre-hearing review as a condition of continuing to proceed with the case was £133.40 for 2001.

Arms Exports

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been granted for equipment on the military list to Israel in each month of 2002, including military list and dual-use ratings; what equipment is covered under these licences; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 11 June 2002
	The number of Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) covering items on the military and dual use lists, issued to end users in Israel in each month since January 2002, is set out in the table. Individual licences might cover a range of items with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the tables in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
	
		
			 Rating No. of SIELS issued for Israel No. of OIELS issued for Israel 
		
		
			 January 2002   
			 ML4 1 — 
			 ML5 4 — 
			 ML9 1 — 
			 ML11 1 — 
			 0C004 2 — 
			 1C350 1 — 
			 2B230 1 — 
			 3A001 1 — 
			 6A001 — 1 
			 End use 1 — 
			
			 February 2002   
			 ML5 4 — 
			 ML9 2 — 
			 ML10 2 — 
			 ML18 1 — 
			 ML22 1 — 
			 PL5031 — 1 
			 1C202 — 1 
			 2B350 1 — 
			 5A002 1 1 
			 5B002 1 — 
			 5D002 1 — 
			 End use 1 — 
			
			 March 2002   
			 ML4 4 — 
			 ML9 1 — 
			 ML10 1 — 
			 ML11 2 — 
			 ML15 2 — 
			 PL5031 — 1 
			 0C004 1 — 
			 1A002 1 — 
			 1C202 — — 
			 1C352 — 1 
			 2B230 2 — 
			 2B350 2 — 
			 3A001 1 — 
			 5A002 1 — 
			 7A103 1 — 
			 End use 3 — 
			
			 April 2002   
			 ML11 1 — 
			 ML15 1 — 
			 PL5031 1 — 
			 4A003 1 — 
			 5A002 — 1 
			 5B002 — 1 
			 5D002 — 1 
			 5E002 — 1 
			 6A203 1 — 
			
			 May 2002   
			 PL5031 2 — 
			 2B350 1 — 
			 3A001 1 — 
			 3B001 — 1 
			 3D002 — 1 
			 5A002 — 1 
			 5D002 1 — 
			 6A001 — 1 
			 End use 3 — 
		
	
	The summary description of the items covered by these ratings will be published in the Government's 2002 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which will be available in the Libraries of the House. In addition, Israel is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences, copies of which are also placed in the Libraries of the House. I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to him of 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 722–23W.

Arms Exports

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the policy of the Government on the granting of export licences for defence-related equipment to (a) India and (b) Pakistan.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to the statements made by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 15 March 2002, Official Report, columns 1296–98W and by my noble Friend the Lord Sainsbury of Turville in another place on 28 May 2002, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 1147–149.

Arms Exports

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences for defence-related exports have been (a) granted and (b) refused to (i) Pakistan and (ii) India in each of the last five years.

Nigel Griffiths: The number of Standard Individual Export Licences and Open Individual Export Licences for defence-related exports that have been granted and refused to Pakistan and India in each of the last five years is published in the Government's annual reports on strategic export controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 annual reports are available in the Libraries of the House. The 2001 annual report will be published soon.

Arms Exports

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export licences have been granted since 2 May 1997 for the export of (a) Accuracy International sniper rifles and (b) sniper rifles to Switzerland where the final end-use destination was a different country.

Nigel Griffiths: The export of sniper rifles is controlled under entry ML1 in Part III of Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 as amended. Between 2 May 1997 and 6 June 2002 no Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) were issued covering the rating ML1 where the consignee was Switzerland and the end-user was in a different country.

"Your Guide"

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Government Departments' and agencies are involved in discussions with Consignia about participating in the "Your Guide" scheme to use sub-post offices in a Government general practitioner role when it is introduced across the UK.

Stephen Timms: I understand that Post Office Ltd. has engaged in discussions with a wide range of Government Departments and with representatives of local government. Discussions are currently focused on the Department for Work and Pensions, the Inland Revenue, the Department for Education and Skills, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Oil and Gas Directorate

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of her Department's Oil and Gas Directorate posts that are in Aberdeen (a) have been transferred from London and (b) are new posts created in Aberdeen; and if she will list these jobs by grade of employment.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 May 2002
	Responsibilities of the Oil and Gas Directorate have changed considerably over the years since the Aberdeen office was first set up in 1993. This has led to many changes in posts in both London and Aberdeen. For example:
	a new pay and grading structure was introduced in 1997;
	19 posts were transferred to the Oil and Gas Directorate in Aberdeen from British Trade International in 2000;
	14 Oil and Gas Directorate Aberdeen posts were transferred to the Inland Revenue's offshore taxation office in Aberdeen in 2000.
	Details of the number of Oil and Gas Directorate posts in Aberdeen and London by grade is provided today in my answer to the hon. Member's parliamentary question no. 56326.

Oil and Gas Directorate

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of her Department's Oil and Gas Directorate posts are in (a) Aberdeen and (b) London; and if she will list the jobs in each location by grade of employment in each year since 1994.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 May 2002
	The number of Oil and Gas Directorate posts located in (a) Aberdeen and (b) London in each year since 1994 were as follows. A breakdown by grade of employment is only available from 1997 onwards:
	
		
			  Aberdeen London 
		
		
			 1994 44.2 115.3 
			 1995 44.2 120.8 
			 1996 45.5 118.9 
		
	
	
		
			 Grade of employment Aberdeen London 
		
		
			 1997   
			 SCS 1 3 
			 R11 1 2 
			 R10 7 17 
			 R9 12 20.6 
			 R8 6 6 
			 FS 0 3 
			 R7 5 12 
			 R6 6.5 12.4 
			 R5 5 6 
			 R4 0 10 
			 R3 8.4 8 
			 R2 1.7 5 
			 Total 53.6 105 
			   
			 1998   
			 SCS 0.6 3.4 
			 R11 1 2 
			 R10 7 17 
			 R9 14 18.6 
			 R8 7 5 
			 FS 0 3 
			 R7 5 12 
			 R6 6.5 12.4 
			 R5 5 6 
			 R4 0 10 
			 R3 8.5 8 
			 R2 1.7 4.9 
			 Total 56.3 102.3 
			 1999   
			 SCS 1 3 
			 R11 1 3 
			 R10 7 16 
			 R9 15 16.6 
			 R8 9 9 
			 FS 0 3 
			 R7 3 10 
			 R6 7 10.4 
			 R5 6 6 
			 R4 0 8 
			 R3 8.5 8.5 
			 R2 2.8 5.8 
			 Total 60.3 99.3 
			
			 2000   
			 SCS 2 3 
			 R11 1 3 
			 R10 10 17 
			 R9 13 17.3 
			 R8 15 13 
			 FS 0 3 
			 R7 3 9 
			 R6 8 12.4 
			 R5 2 6 
			 R4 5 9 
			 R3 8 6.5 
			 R2 5.3 4.6 
			 Total 72.3 103.8 
			
			 2001   
			 SCS 2 3 
			 R11 2 4 
			 R10 10 17 
			 R9 15 15.6 
			 R8 21 13 
			 FS 0 3 
			 R7 2 4.4 
			 R6 11 10 
			 R5 2 5 
			 R4 11 8 
			 R3 3 8.5 
			 R2 5.5 5.1 
			 Total 84.5 96.6

British Telecom

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last held discussions with British Telecom.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet major UK companies. I have met the Chairman of BT today.

Correspondence

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Eastleigh dated 18 March regarding the funding for supply chain companies constructing the A380 Airbus.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 18 June 2002
	I apologise for the delay in responding to this letter which is due to an administration error. I will be responding to the hon. Member very shortly.

Liabilities Management Unit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 993W, if she will state (a) the preferred bidder, (b) the private sector source for the loan of a Director to the Liabilities Management Unit, (c) whether that source is meeting the staff costs involved and (d) the sources of loans and secondments of all other private sector staff within the LMU.

Brian Wilson: I am not yet in a position to give details of the partner contractor but I expect to be able to make an announcement shortly. The Director of the Liabilities Management Unit (LMU) is seconded to the Department from the Ford Motor Company. The Director continues to receive his salary from the Ford Motor Company but the Department is making a contribution towards it. The other secondees currently in the LMU are drawn from BNFL and UKAEA. Costs are being met by the Department.

Lean Manufacturing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often during the past year the Manufacturing Advisory Service has (a) given advice to firms about lean manufacturing and (b) acted as a medium between firms implementing lean manufacturing and (i) lean manufacturing experts and (ii) firms that have already had success in this area.

Alan Johnson: The Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (RCMEs) delivering the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in each region are coming on stream at present and are the responsibility of the Regional Development Agencies in the regions concerned. They are not expected to provide information to the Department in the degree of detail requested by the hon. Member.

Lean Manufacturing

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken by the Manufacturing Advisory Service to inform domestic firms about lean manufacturing.

Alan Johnson: All the Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence being established to deliver the Manufacturing Advisory Service in their respective regions will be communicating to manufacturers the merits of lean manufacturing. The associated MAS website (www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing/MAS) includes a fact sheet on lean manufacturing.
	In addition the service will refer manufacturers to the lean manufacturing experts within the group of Industry Forum Adaptation Projects that the Department supports.

Californian Energy Crisis

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the lessons to be learned from the Californian energy crisis.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The Department has monitored the situation in California closely, and continues to do so. The underlying cause of the problems in the Californian electricity market appears to have been a shortage of generation capacity. By contrast, capacity margins in Great Britain are healthy and demand growth in GB has been much more modest than it was in California. Overall, the Department believes a similar combination of circumstances is unlikely to occur in Great Britain, although the Department is not complacent. The Department and Ofgem set up a joint Security of Supply Working Group in July 2001 which, among other matters, is monitoring capacity issues carefully.

University Research

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of public funding of research in UK universities in each of the last five years has been for (a) military application and (b) other purposes.

Patricia Hewitt: The information required can be found in Tables 6.4 and 6.5 on the Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ ost/setstats.

University Research

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportion of research in UK universities in each of the last five years that has been funded (a) privately and (b) publicly.

Patricia Hewitt: The information required is as follows.
	
		Per cent. 
		
			  Private(4) Public(5) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 26 74 
			 1998–99 25 75 
			 1997–98 24 76 
			 1996–97 23 77 
			 1995–96 22 78 
		
	
	(4) Private includes income from UK based charities, industry, commerce and public corporations.
	(5) Public includes income from OST/Research Councils, Funding Councils, UK central Government bodies/local authorities, health and hospital authorities.
	Sources:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency. Office for National Statistics. The figures are derived from data on income received by universities as research grants, contracts and infrastructure support.

End-of-life Vehicles Directive

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what extra funding has been provided to local authorities to finance the end-of-life vehicles directive; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The directive contains no provision which applies directly to local authorities. Additional costs incurred by local authorities as a consequence of our transposition and implementation of the directive would, under the "New Burdens" arrangements, fall to be met by DTI.

Plutonium

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies have been undertaken by (a) her Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies responsible to her Department and (c) consultants, in respect of the management of plutonium.

Brian Wilson: The Department, in collaboration with other interested Government Departments and agencies is currently undertaking a study of the possible options for the future management of UK owned civil plutonium.

Export Licences

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 50W, on export licences, when she will complete processing the export licence application number 32368 made on 7 March by Pultrex Ltd. of Colchester; what the explanation is for the delay in dealing with the application; and what action she plans to take to improve the timescale of processing export licence applications.

Nigel Griffiths: Licences to export arms and other items whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, acting through the Export Control Organisation (ECO). A decision has not yet been reached on export licence application number 32368, but will be taken as quickly as possible, consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved including the status of end-users. The application is currently outstanding with our advisers.
	The Government recognise that the system for processing export licence applications requires continuous improvement if we are to deliver a more efficient and effective export licensing system, which is both accountable and transparent. The ECO has introduced a number of initiatives to reduce the time taken to process export licence applications. These include the roll-out of new enhanced IT systems that will mean, for example, allowing exporters to apply for a standard individual export licence over the internet.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Teachers' Pay

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to equalise rates of pay between teachers in (a) sixth forms and (b) further education colleges.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 April 2002
	Teachers in sixth forms are subject to national school teachers' pay and conditions. Further education colleges are free to set their own pay and conditions and my right hon. Friend has no plans to change that state of affairs.

Departmental Appointments

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list her Department's appointees to DCMS sponsored bodies, broken down by age group.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 June 2002
	There are no Department for Education and Skills appointees on public bodies sponsored by DCMS.

GCSEs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to make provision for a GCSE in performing arts and related disciplines.

Ivan Lewis: As indicated in the Green Paper: "14–19 Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards", the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been asked by the Department to begin work on the development of additional titles for new GCSEs in vocational subjects. Advice is awaited on the range of possible titles, and timings for implementation.

Small Schools

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on pupil achievements and pupil teacher ratios in (a) small schools and (b) larger and amalgamated schools.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The latest performance data for the cohorts of pupils taking Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 for all schools was published in May 2002 in the Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of Education: National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 & 14 year olds in England: 2001". The GCSE/GNVQ performance was also published in May 2002 in "GCSE/GNVQ and GCE A/AS/VCE/Advanced GNVQ Examination Results 2000/2001—England". Both publications are available on the Department's website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics. The Keystage and GCSE/GNVQ performance of schools with a small cohort is shown.
	Tables showing the pupil:teacher ratios (PTRs) for primary and secondary schools, by school size are also shown. School size refers to the total number of full time equivalent pupils in the school as reported in the Annual Schools' Census (January 2002).
	Copies of the relevant tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	
		Table 1: Key Stage one 2001—percentage of pupils at Level 2 or above (test)
		
			  Maintained schools(6) All schools 
		
		
			 Reading(7) 88 84 
			 Writing 88 86 
			 Mathematics 94 91 
			
			 Number of schools 1,114 15,937 
		
	
	(6) Schools with fewer than 10 eligible pupils.
	(7) These percentages are based on achievements at Level 2C/B/A in the reading task and Level 3 and 4 in the reading test.
	
		Table 2: Key Stage two 2001—percentage of pupils at Level 4 or above (test)
		
			   Maintained schools(8) All schools 
		
		
			 English 79 75 
			 Mathematics 75 71 
			 Science 91 88 
			
			 Number of schools 975 14,780 
		
	
	(8) Schools with fewer than 10 eligible pupils
	
		Table 3: Key Stage three 2001—percentage of pupils at Level 5 or above (test)
		
			  Maintained mainstream schools and CTCs(9)  All schools 
		
		
			 English 50 66 
			 Mathematics 55 67 
			 Science 58 67 
			
			 Number of schools 22 3,163 
		
	
	(9) Schools with fewer than 50 eligible pupils.
	Notes for tables 1, 2 and 3:
	1. Number of schools is the largest of the available subjects.
	2. Small schools and all schools figures published in the statistical Bulletin published in May 2002.
	3. Maintained schools cover mainstream maintained schools and CTCs.
	4. Independent schools include independent special schools.
	5. Special schools cover all maintained and non-maintained special schools and pupil referral units.
	6. All pupils reaching the end of a Key Stage are "eligible pupils", although not all sit the tests (due for example to disapplication or absence).
	
		Table 4: GCSE/GNVQ achievements of 15-year-old pupils in schools in England 2000–01—percentage of 15-year-old pupils reaching the relevant qualification—maintained mainstream schools and CTCs
		
			  Schools with 50 or fewer 15-year-olds  All schools 
		
		
			 Five or more A*-C 41.6 48.6 
			 Five or more A*-G 88.6 91.0 
			 No passes 5.6 3.9 
			 Average point score 35.4 39.1 
			
			 Number of schools 21 3,133 
		
	
	
		Table 5: Maintained primary and secondary schools—pupil:teacher ratio by size of the school(10)—2002 (provisional)
		
			 Size of school Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 Up to 100 18.2 8.6 
			 101 to 200 21.1 13.6 
			 201 to 300 22.8 16.4 
			 301 to 400 23.1 17.0 
			 401 to 500 23.8 17.2 
			 501 to 600 23.3 16.8 
			 601 to 700 23.8 16.9 
			 701 to 800 23.4 16.9 
			 801 to 900 24.1 16.9 
			 901 to 1,000 28.0 17.0 
			 1,001 to 1,100 (11)— 17.1 
			 1,101 to 1,200 (11)— 16.9 
			 1,201 to 1,300 (11)— 17.0 
			 1,301 to 1,400 (11)— 16.8 
			 1,401 to 1,500 (11)— 16.9 
			 1,501 to 1,600 (11)— 17.0 
			 1,601 to 1,700 (11)— 16.8 
			 1,701 to 1,800 (11)— 17.1 
			 1,801 and over (11)— 17.1 
			
			 Overall 22.5 16.9 
		
	
	(10) Based on full time equivalent pupil numbers.
	(11) No schools of this size.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census—January 2002 (provisional).

Children in Care

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if schools are required to record whether a pupil is living in (a) a residential care home or (b) with foster parents.

Ivan Lewis: Schools are not currently required to record this information. However with effect from January 2003 the returns for the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC) will include three new data items about looked after children to show:
	whether or not the pupil was looked after on the Census day;
	whether or not the pupil has, to the school's knowledge, been looked after at any time since they joined the school;
	and the identity of the caring authority for the pupil's current (or most recent) looked-after episode.

Children in Care

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision the Government makes to ensure children in care remain in the same educational institution until the age of 16 years.

Ivan Lewis: The Government recognise that changes in care arrangements can disrupt the education of children who are looked after, and are determined to promote stability.
	This Department, jointly with the Department of Health, issued guidance to all authorities in May 2000 on the education of children and young people in public care. The guidance emphasises the importance of a stable care and education placement in order to promote educational success for children in public care. The Department of Health also set targets within the Quality Protects programme to promote stability and reduce placement moves.
	Under s22(3) of the Children Act, local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people who are looked after, education being a critical dimension of their welfare. It is for local authorities to decide on a case-by-case basis whether it is in the best interests of a child in public care to remain in the same educational establishment.

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to make access to child care less dependent on families' income, location and their employment status.

David Miliband: The Government's national child care strategy was introduced in May 1998 to ensure that affordable, accessible and quality child care is available in every neighbourhood and complements early education, schools and other family services. By March 2004, we will have created 900,000 new child care places for 1.6 million children which, taking into account turnover, should allow around 1 million extra children to benefit. We are working in particular to extend child care provision in disadvantaged areas through Neighbourhood Nurseries and other programmes, and to make it more affordable, through measures like the working families tax credit, under which lower income families can receive help with up to 70 per cent. of their eligible child care costs. Support with child care costs is a feature of the New Deal, particularly the New Deal for Lone Parents, and is also available to further and higher education student parents.

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's long-term objective is for child care by 2010.

David Miliband: The inter-departmental review of child care being led by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Years and School Standards is developing a 10-year vision and strategy for child care, focusing on the provision of quality, affordable and accessible child care. Final decisions on the outcomes of the review will be taken in the context of the 2002 spending review.

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the PIU review of the national child care strategy will be published.

David Miliband: We expect that outcomes from the inter-departmental review of child care being led by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Years and School Standards will be announced in the 2002 spending review this summer.

Religious Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what policy changes she plans for (a) school assemblies and (b) religious education in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have no particular policy on school assemblies as it is for schools to decide the frequency, format and content of any assembly which takes place.
	The current policy regarding religious education (RE) is set out in circular 1–94. The detail of RE is determined locally and we do not have any plans to change that.

Sign Language

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the British Deaf Association and RNID about whether teachers of the deaf should be required to have a BSL qualification; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether teachers of the deaf are given British sign language training at public expense; and to what extent they are required to pay fees to achieve that training.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 17 June 2002
	In addition to holding qualified teacher status, teachers who are employed to teach classes of pupils with hearing impairment are required by regulations to undertake an additional specialist mandatory qualification (MQ). In July 1999, at the request of the then Secretary of State, the Teacher Training Agency carried out a review of existing arrangements in order to develop a new specification for MQ provision. The resulting specification, amended in light of consultation with a wide range of organisations, including those representing children with hearing impairment, requires teachers pursuing the hearing impairment MQ to acquire a minimum competence in signing equivalent to the stage one qualification offered by the Council for the Advancement of Communications with Deaf People.
	Under the special educational needs category of the Department's standards fund, grant support is available to local education authorities and schools for training and professional development of teachers and other staff. It is open to them to use this funding to help staff to secure necessary mandatory qualifications, or other training in signing including British sign language.

Music Therapy

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support her Department gives for the use of music therapy to assist people with disabilities.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Under the Standards Fund 2002–03, the Department is supporting local expenditure of £91 million to enhance provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities. One of the expenditure headings is therapies and it would be open to local education authorities to use part of their allocation to support music therapy if they so wish.

Educational Attainment

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils awarded educational maintenance allowances were living (a) in a residential care home and (b) with foster parents in the last three years for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 18 June 2002
	We do not require local education authorities, who administer the pilot EMA schemes, to collect this information. However, across three pilot areas which are specifically targeting vulnerable young people, around 40 EMA recipients have been identified as being in residential care. The purpose of these pilots is to examine how the effectiveness of EMA in reaching out to the most vulnerable groups in society can be maximised.

Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas students there are in England and Wales universities, broken down by university; and what percentage overseas students represent of the student population.

Margaret Hodge: The requested information is given in the table. The student numbers shown cover full-time and part-time courses of higher education, including both undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study.
	
		Student enrolments(12) in English and Welsh higher education institutions 2001–02 (provisional) -- Census counts as at 1 December 2001
		
			 Higher education institution Overseas students Total students (all domiciles) Overseas as a proportion of total (Percentage) 
		
		
			 England
			 Anglia Polytechnic University 2,290 19,500 12 
			 Aston University 860 6,930 12 
			 Bath College of Higher Education 210 4,170 5 
			 Birkbeck College 360 11,860 3 
			 Bishop Grosseteste College 0 1,020 0 
			 Bolton Institute of Higher Education 390 5,940 7 
			 Bournemouth University 1,190 12,890 9 
			 Brunel University 1,520 13,410 11 
			 Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education 830 8,610 10 
			 Canterbury Christ Church College 370 11,400 3 
			 Central School of Speech and Drama 80 620 13 
			 Chester College of Higher Education 150 6,250 2 
			 Chichester Institute of Higher Education 50 4,040 1 
			 City University 2,820 12,880 22 
			 College of St. Mark and St. John 230 3,130 7 
			 Conservatoire for Dance and Drama 90 340 26 
			 Coventry University 2,440 16,240 15 
			 Cranfield University 1,130 3,560 32 
			 Cumbria Institute of the Arts 60 840 7 
			 Dartington College of Arts 60 480 13 
			 De Montfort University 1,760 21,570 8 
			 Edge Hill College of Higher Education 170 7,930 2 
			 Falmouth College of Arts 90 1,530 6 
			 Goldsmiths College 1,310 7,270 18 
			 Harper Adams Agricultural College 170 1,740 10 
			 Homerton College 50 2,390 2 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 3,850 11,840 33 
			 Institute of Advanced Nursing Education 40 760 5 
			 Institute of Education, University of London 580 3,460 17 
			 Institute of Cancer Research 60 470 13 
			 Kent Institute of Art and Design 470 2,030 23 
			 King Alfred's College, Winchester 110 4,240 3 
			 King's College London 3,100 17,270 18 
			 Kingston University 1,990 15,850 13 
			 Leeds Metropolitan University 1,680 21,890 8 
			 Liverpool Hope 330 6,480 5 
			 Liverpool John Moores University 1,710 19,580 9 
			 London Business School 970 1,450 67 
			 London Guildhall University 1,720 12,440 14 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 5,030 8,080 62 
			 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 400 780 51 
			 Loughborough University 1,640 13,550 12 
			 Middlesex University 5,280 22,150 24 
			 Nene College 510 9,940 5 
			 Newman College 80 1,450 6 
			 Northern School of Contemporary Dance 40 150 27 
			 Norwich School of Art and Design 20 730 3 
			 Oxford Brookes University 2,540 14,220 18 
			 Queen Mary and Westfield College 1,960 9,440 21 
			 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 110 710 15 
			 Roehampton Institute of Higher Education 650 7,000 9 
			 Rose Bruford College 130 800 16 
			 Royal Academy of Music 270 610 44 
			 Royal Agricultural College 90 580 16 
			 Royal College of Art 260 850 31 
			 Royal College of Music 170 540 31 
			 Royal Holloway and Bedford New College 1,430 5,760 25 
			 Royal Northern College of Music 130 600 22 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 1,440 23,130 6 
			 South Bank University 1,110 16,730 7 
			 Southampton Institute 970 10,600 9 
			 St. George's Hospital Medical School 190 2,790 7 
			 St. Martin's College 300 7,920 4 
			 St. Mary's College 190 2,660 7 
			 Staffordshire University 1,140 16,280 7 
			 Surrey Institute of Art and Design 350 2,820 12 
			 Thames Valley University 1,420 13,330 11 
			 The Arts Institute of Bournemouth 80 1,090 7 
			 The London Institute 3,120 10,160 31 
			 The Manchester Metropolitan University 1,860 28,560 7 
			 The Nottingham Trent University 1,590 22,210 7 
			 The Open University 0 150,890 0 
			 The Royal Veterinary College 170 900 19 
			 The School of Oriental and African Studies 1,520 3,540 43 
			 The School of Pharmacy, University of London 160 780 21 
			 The University of Bath 1,940 10,450 19 
			 The University of Birmingham 4,000 25,200 16 
			 The University of Bradford 1,710 10,606 17 
			 The University of Brighton 2,010 15,150 13 
			 The University of Bristol 2,340 17,350 13 
			 The University of Cambridge 4,690 21,450 22 
			 The University of Central England in Birmingham 1,430 18,060 8 
			 The University of Central Lancashire 2,370 23,250 10 
			 The University of East Anglia 1,640 12,540 13 
			 The University of East London 2,030 12,420 16 
			 The University of Essex 2,630 8,240 32 
			 The University of Exeter 1,520 12,080 13 
			 The University of Greenwich 2,510 17,100 15 
			 The University of Huddersfield 880 16,420 5 
			 The University of Hull 2,260 16,400 14 
			 The University of Keele 910 9,430 10 
			 The University of Kent at Canterbury 2,250 12,470 18 
			 The University of Lancaster 2,180 11,240 19 
			 The University of Leeds 4,810 32,820 15 
			 The University of Leicester 2,830 16,630 17 
			 The University of Lincoln 1,460 11,270 13 
			 The University of Liverpool 3,080 21,860 14 
			 The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology 2,090 6,970 30 
			 The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,210 17,370 13 
			 The University of North London 2,410 14,030 17 
			 The University of Northumbria at Newcastle 2,240 19,570 11 
			 The University of Nottingham 3,900 23,930 16 
			 The University of Oxford 4,560 20,850 22 
			 The University of Plymouth 1,650 21,780 8 
			 The University of Portsmouth 2,970 16,880 18 
			 The University of Reading 2,500 13,570 18 
			 The University of Salford 1,670 17,100 10 
			 The University of Sheffield 3,200 22,970 14 
			 The University of Southampton 2,090 19,150 11 
			 The University of Sunderland 1,340 11,340 12 
			 The University of Surrey 2,370 11,500 21 
			 The University of Sussex 2,320 11,280 21 
			 The University of Teesside 640 13,650 5 
			 The University of Warwick 4,160 20,210 21 
			 The University of Westminster 3,540 21,340 17 
			 The University of Wolverhampton 1,790 19,360 9 
			 The University of York 1,140 9,450 12 
			 The Victoria University of Manchester 3,750 24,990 15 
			 Trinity and All Saints College 80 2,590 3 
			 Trinity College of Music 120 490 24 
			 University College London 4,970 19,210 26 
			 University of Derby 590 11,400 5 
			 University of Durham 1,410 13,560 10 
			 University of Gloucestershire 260 7,960 3 
			 University of Hertfordshire 2,140 18,300 12 
			 University of London (Central Institutes and activities) 270 790 34 
			 University of Luton 2,510 9,390 27 
			 University of the West of England, Bristol 1,390 21,060 7 
			 Wimbledon School of Art 90 620 15 
			 Worcester College of Higher Education 190 5,290 4 
			 Writtle College 140 1,240 11 
			 York St. John College 210 4,860 4 
			 
			 Wales
			 Swansea Institute of Higher Education 180 4,840 4 
			 The North-East Wales Institute of Higher Education 350 4,890 7 
			 The University of Wales, Lampeter 340 4,560 7 
			 Trinity College, Carmarthen 110 2,260 5 
			 University of Glamorgan 1,360 15,900 9 
			 University of Wales College of Medicine 270 3,330 8 
			 University of Wales College, Newport 420 7,530 6 
			 University of Wales Institute, Cardiff 490 7,900 6 
			 University of Wales, Aberystwyth 980 9,700 10 
			 University of Wales, Bangor 680 8,420 8 
			 University of Wales, Cardiff 2,740 19,030 14 
			 University of Wales, Swansea 1,330 10,890 12 
			 Welsh College of Music and Drama 50 600 8 
			 
			 Total England and Wales 199,300 1,642,300 12 
		
	
	(12) Includes full-time and part-time enrolments on undergraduate and postgraduate courses of HE in higher education institutions in England and Wales. Institution numbers have been rounded to nearest 10 and totals to nearest 100.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) December 2001 Student Record.

Examinations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many complaints she has received in 2002 about falsification or cheating in SATs or public examinations in schools.

Ivan Lewis: The marking of the national curriculum tests and public examinations is still taking place, so figures on the confirmed cases of falsification or cheating are not available.

Sixth Form Provision

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment the Government have made of the need to increase funding to retain academic staff in sixth form colleges.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has not carried out a specific assessment of the potential link between the funding gap and the retention of academic staff in sixth form colleges. We are, however, aware of the funding gap between schools and the further education sector, and remain committed to bringing up levels of funding for colleges over time and as resources allow. This issue is being considered as part of the current spending review.
	We are investing significant funding in the FE sector, including more than £310 million in the Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) during the period 2001–04 to allow colleges, including sixth form colleges to recruit, reward and retain, high quality teachers. A survey conducted by the Sixth Form Colleges' Employers' Forum has shown that 85 per cent. of eligible teaching staff are in receipt of a professional standards payment within TPI.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have been awarded an education maintenance allowance in (a) Staffordshire and (b) Stoke-on-Trent, North for the academic year 2001–02.

Ivan Lewis: 2,659 young people in Stoke-on-Trent have received an allowance in this academic year. We are unable to break this down into figures for different areas of the city.
	Staffordshire LEA is not taking part in the EMA pilot scheme, although students living in Stoke-on-Trent who study at institutions in Staffordshire can receive an award.

Individual Learning Plans

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support and resources are made available to young people when developing their individual learning plans.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2002
	The Green Paper "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards" proposes a broader choice of learning options for young people during the 14–19 phase of education. It recognises that in order to understand the range of choices open to them and their implications for future learning and career paths, young people will need additional advice and guidance, both from schools and the Connexions Service, at the beginning and throughout the 14–19 phase. The Green Paper suggests that the start of the 14–19 phase should begin with a review with each young person, to record achievements to date and identify learning and career goals through until age 19. It further proposes that the outcomes of the review should be recorded in an individual learning plan.
	The consultation on the Green Paper ended on 31 May 2002. Ministers are currently reviewing the responses and, in the light of these, will make an announcement on the outcome of the consultation later this year.

Language Teaching

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when modern foreign language teaching is to be excluded from the compulsory curriculum for those aged 14.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2002
	This is a proposal in the Green Paper "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards". Consultation closed only on 31 May 2002 and we are reflecting carefully on the views expressed during consultation before reaching our decision. We have indicated in the Green Paper that curriculum changes would be subject to further consultation before their introduction.
	Our proposals seek a balance between the need to offer pupils greater choice, and the importance of foreign languages. We propose a statutory entitlement to them in all schools. We have also expressed our aspirations to boost language learning in primary schools.

Language Teaching

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Government intend to encourage the integration of language learning within modern apprenticeship frameworks as stated in the Green Paper "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards", with reference to the availability of an optional foreign language.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2002
	Languages are already an option as part of a modern apprenticeship and can be included in the young person's training plan where they are deemed necessary or desirable, if the employer agrees.
	We are in discussion with the LSC to establish how opportunities to develop language skills might be better signposted to employers and learners so that they are more easily integrated into learning programmes.

Language Teaching

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research into the study of languages and the benefits of studying a foreign language is being undertaken by her Department.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2002
	We have considered the findings of recent research including the final report of the Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000); the University of Warwick, Centre for Language Teacher Education (CELTE) report on the analysis and evaluation for teaching of modern foreign languages at Key Stage 2 in England, (2000) and the European Commission's survey of the languages spoken in the EU 'Eurobarometer 54', (2001).
	These reports have informed our aspirations for the future of teaching and learning languages outlined in our 'Language Learning' pamphlet and the discussions of the Languages National Steering Group. Our long term national language strategy, which we plan to publish in the autumn, will contain our proposals to widen the opportunities for language learning.

Language Teaching

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if her Department intends to provide peripatetic language (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2002
	We are examining the overall issue of teacher supply to deliver our language learning aspirations set out in our recently published 'Language Learning' pamphlet. The use of peripatetic language teachers is one of the options we are considering. Our national languages strategy, which we plan to publish in the autumn, will outline our intentions.

Brookfield School

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on the application to dispose of the playing fields element of Brookfield school in the constituency of Bradford, North.

David Miliband: The application by Bradford metropolitan district council to dispose of playing fields at the closed Brookfield school is under consideration and we expect to be in a position to announce a decision shortly. I will arrange for officials to let you know the outcome of Bradford's application as soon as a final decision is made.

City Technology Colleges and Academies

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the initial capital costs of (a) Emmanuel City Technology College in Gateshead, (b) each approved city technology college and (c) each approved city academy, together with the proportion of (i) capital costs and (ii) running costs met in each case by the sponsors of those colleges and academies; and if she will list the continuing financial obligations in each case.

David Miliband: In answer to my hon. Friend's question, the following two tables show the initial capital costs of each city technology college (CTC), including Emmanuel, and each approved academy. As far as academies are concerned, five have signed funding agreements with the Secretary of State. These projects are still at a very early stage and their final capital costs will not be known until much further into their construction stages.
	Year-on-year running costs for CTCs and academies are met by the Department. As charitable companies, CTCs and academies are also free to generate additional income through charitable donations or any trading arms to supplement departmental funding. For CTCs, the first table gives the total amount of sponsorship, including any initial costs, provided to each college up until February 2002, as reported to my Department. Similar information will be collected on academies once they begin to operate.
	There are no continuing financial obligations on CTC or academy sponsors beyond the initial contribution to capital costs. However, CTCS are required to meet at least 20 per cent. of the costs of any capital project funded by the Department.
	
		CTC initial capital costs -- £000
		
			 College DfES Sponsors Total 
		
		
			 ADT 9,056 2,264 11,320 
			 Bacons(13) 13,665 1,800 15,465 
			 Britschool 8,000 2,332 10,332 
			 Brooke Weston 8,152 2,038 10,190 
			 Dixons 7,331 2,074 9,405 
			 Djanogly 8,196 1,749 9,945 
			 Emmanuel 6,887 1,722 8,609 
			 Habs 5,700 3,445 9,145 
			 Harris(13) 7,010 1,683 8,693 
			 John Cabot 8,922 2,234 11,156 
			 Kingshurst 7,598 2,112 9,710 
			 Landau Forte 8,160 2,040 10,200 
			 Leigh(13) 7,804 1,589 9,393 
			 Macmillan 6,704 1,696 8,400 
			 Telford 8,399 2,396 10,795 
			  
			 Totals 121,584 31,174 152,758 
		
	
	(13) These are not the originally agreed funded levels. The DfES contributions were later reduced to the agreed levels by adjustments to funding
	
		CTC sponsorship returns—summary up to February 2002
		
			  £000(14) 
		
		
			 ADT 4,256 
			 Bacons(15) 2,064 
			 Britschool 4,431 
			 Brooke Weston 3,383 
			 Dixons 3,943 
			 Djanogly 2,823 
			 Emmanuel 2,289 
			 Habs 5,597 
			 Harris(15) 2,061 
			 John Cabot 2,720 
			 Kingshurst 4,295 
			 Landau Forte 2,405 
			 Leigh(15) 1,955 
			 Macmillan 3,943 
			 Telford 3,595 
			  
			 Total 49,760 
		
	
	(14) These figures are total sponsorship including initial capital costs. They are as reported to the DfES by each CTC. They have not been confirmed by the DfES.
	(15) These are not the originally agreed funded levels. The DfES contributions were later reduced to the agreed levels by adjustments to funding
	
		Agreed academies capital budgets -- £
		
			 Academy DfES contribution Sponsor contribution Total cash limit 
		
		
			 Bexley Business Academy, Bexley 25,750,000 2,410,000 28,160,000 
			 Capital City Academy, Brent 21,404,000 2,000,000 23,404,000 
			 Greig City Academy, Haringey 11,000,000 2,000,000 13,000,000 
			 South Middlesbrough City Academy, Middlesbrough 19,171,360 2,000,000 21,171,360 
			 Walsall City Academy, Walsall 14,560,000 2,500,000 17,060,000

Parenting

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to require children to declare that they have received parental support on the cover sheet of public examinations.

Ivan Lewis: The awarding bodies already require teachers to confirm that they have taken steps to satisfy themselves that coursework assessed for public examinations is solely that of the candidates concerned. Teachers must present a written declaration that a candidate's coursework was produced under the required conditions.

Schools (Community Cohesion)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to publish for consultation her draft guidance to school organisation committees on the effect of proposals for new schools on community cohesion.

David Miliband: We plan to consult on draft guidance to school organisation committees, which will include guidance on community cohesion from July this year.

Voluntary Schools

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements are made for the transfer of assets, land and buildings, when voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools close.

David Miliband: The normal pattern of property ownership at a voluntary aided or voluntary controlled school is for the trustees to own the site and buildings and for the local education authority to own the playing fields. When a voluntary aided or voluntary controlled school closes, the playing fields remain the property of the local education authority but what happens to the site and buildings depends on the type of school and the circumstances of the closure.
	When a church voluntary school which is located on its original site closes, the Secretary of State may be asked to make an order under section 554 of the Education Act 1996, which allows the diocese in which the school is situated to use proceeds from the sale for the benefit of other church schools within its area.
	However, where a local education authority has provided new or additional premises for a voluntary school, the local education authority may later claim compensation from the proceeds of sale of the former premises. If the local education authority and the trustees are unable to reach agreement on the amount of compensation the local education authority should receive, the Secretary of State may be asked to determine the amount.
	Where the trustees of a voluntary school have given notice to terminate the school's occupation of any land, the Secretary of State may require the trustees to repay to the Department any funds it has provided, or to transfer to the local education authority any part of the premises it needs for educational purposes. The Secretary of State may require the local education authority to pay compensation to the trustees, or vice versa, depending on whether she has ordered land to be transferred to the local education authority, and on the extent of any public expenditure on the premises.

School Sports

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist sports schools there are in (a) England and (b) each local education authority.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The total number of schools designated as specialist sports colleges in England is 142. The table shows the number of specialist sports colleges in each local education authority.
	
		Number of schools designated as specialist sports colleges by LEA (as at 17 June 2001)
		
			 Local education authorities Number of sports colleges 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham, London Borough of 1 
			 Barnet, London Borough of 1 
			 Barnsley 1 
			 Bath and North-East Somerset 1 
			 Bedfordshire (from 2 October 1998) — 
			 Bexley, London Borough of — 
			 Birmingham 6 
			 Blackburn with Darwen — 
			 Blackpool 1 
			 Bolton (from 1 September 1998) 1 
			 Bournemouth — 
			 Bracknell Forest — 
			 Bradford 4 
			 Brent, London Borough of — 
			 Brighton and Hove 1 
			 Bristol, City of 2 
			 Bromley, London Borough of — 
			 Buckinghamshire 2 
			 Bury — 
			 Calderdale 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 
			 Camden, London Borough of — 
			 Cheshire 2 
			 Corporation of London — 
			 Cornwall 3 
			 Coventry — 
			 Croydon, London Borough of 1 
			 Cumbria 1 
			 Darlington — 
			 Derby, City of 1 
			 Derbyshire 1 
			 Devon 2 
			 Doncaster 1 
			 Dorset 1 
			 Dudley 1 
			 Durham 2 
			 Ealing, London Borough of 2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1 
			 East Sussex 3 
			 Enfield, London Borough of (from 1 September 1998) — 
			 Essex 5 
			 Gateshead 1 
			 Gloucestershire 2 
			 Greenwich, London Borough of 1 
			 Hackney, London Borough of — 
			 Halton — 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham, London Borough of — 
			 Hampshire 2 
			 Haringey, London Borough of 1 
			 Harrow, London Borough of 1 
			 Hartlepool 1 
			 Havering, London Borough of 1 
			 Herefordshire — 
			 Hertfordshire 2 
			 Hillingdon, London Borough of — 
			 Hounslow, London Borough of — 
			 Isle of Scilly — 
			 Isle of Wight 1 
			 Islington, London Borough of — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea, Royal Borough of — 
			 Kent 4 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 1 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames, Royal Borough of — 
			 Kirklees 1 
			 Knowsley 1 
			 Lambeth, London Borough of — 
			 Lancashire — 
			 Leeds 2 
			 Leicester City (from 2 October 1998) 1 
			 Leicestershire 1 
			 Lewisham, London Borough of — 
			 Lincolnshire 1 
			 Liverpool 2 
			 Luton — 
			 Manchester 2 
			 Medway — 
			 Merton, London Borough of — 
			 Middlesborough 1 
			 Milton Keynes 1 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1 
			 Newham, London Borough of 1 
			 Norfolk 2 
			 North East Lincolnshire — 
			 North Lincolnshire — 
			 North Somerset 1 
			 North Tyneside 1 
			 North Yorkshire — 
			 Northamptonshire 1 
			 Northumberland 2 
			 Nottingham, City of 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 
			 Oldham 1 
			 Oxfordshire 2 
			 Peterborough, City of 1 
			 Plymouth, City of 1 
			 Poole 1 
			 Portsmouth 1 
			 Reading — 
			 Redbridge — 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames, London Borough of 1 
			 Rochdale 1 
			 Rotherham 1 
			 Rutland — 
			 Salford — 
			 Sandwell 1 
			 Sefton 1 
			 Sheffield 2 
			 Shropshire 3 
			 Slough 2 
			 Solihull — 
			 Somerset 1 
			 South Gloucestershire — 
			 South Tyneside — 
			 Southend-on-Sea — 
			 Southampton — 
			 Southwark, London Borough of — 
			 St. Helens — 
			 Staffordshire 1 
			 Stockport — 
			 Stockton on Tees (from 2 October 1998) 1 
			 Stoke on Trent (from 1 September 1998) 1 
			 Suffolk 2 
			 Sunderland 1 
			 Surrey 1 
			 Sutton, London Borough of — 
			 Swindon — 
			 Tameside — 
			 Telford and Wrekin — 
			 Thurrock — 
			 Torbay — 
			 Tower Hamlets, London Borough of — 
			 Trafford 1 
			 Wakefield 1 
			 Walsall 1 
			 Waltham Forest, London Borough of — 
			 Wandsworth, London Borough of 2 
			 Warrington 1 
			 Warwickshire 2 
			 West Berkshire (Newbury) 1 
			 West Sussex 2 
			 Westminster, London Borough — 
			 Wigan 1 
			 Wiltshire 2 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead, Royal Borough of 1 
			 Wirral 2 
			 Wokingham — 
			 Wolverhampton 1 
			 Worcestershire 2 
			 York, City of — 
			  
			 England Total 142

School Sports

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools hold annual sports days in the (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) North East and (c) UK; and how this figure has changed over the last 11 years;
	(2)  what the Department is doing to encourage schools to hold sports days;
	(3)  how many hours per week schools are (a) required and (b) encouraged to devote to physical education and sports for pupils.

David Miliband: The Department for Education and Skills does not collect figures on the number of schools which hold sports days. School sports days have an important role to play as part of an overall package of PE and sport opportunities provided by schools for all children. Work being undertaken by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority suggests that the vast majority of schools do hold an annual sports day or a similar event.
	Physical education is compulsory within the National Curriculum at all Key Stages for all pupils. Schools must provide PE in accordance with the subject's programme of study. Guidance on Key Stage 3, published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Department for Education and Skills, indicates that the programme of study could be delivered within 90 minutes. Our White Paper "Schools: achieving success" includes a commitment that all children will be entitled to two hours of high quality physical education and school sport a week, within and outside the curriculum.
	The school sports co-ordinators programme brings together partnerships of schools. These are championing new PE and sport opportunities for young people. One of the key aims is to increase the amount of inter and intra-school sport which does, of course include schools sport days, both within school and with other partner schools.

Modern Apprenticeship Schemes

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to encourage young people to enter modern apprenticeship schemes.

Ivan Lewis: Following the launch of new generation modern apprenticeships last November, a £16 million marketing campaign is under way, to be run over three years in England, to promote apprenticeships and boost participation. The first part of the campaign ran during March with a new television advertisement, aimed at young people. It generated over 100,000 phone and e-mail responses. A further round of TV advertising starts on 5 August.
	In addition, a range of marketing measures is being introduced to reach not only young people, but also key influencers and employers. At the local level, learning and skills councils, connexions partnerships, careers services and other partners will work together to raise awareness of, and foster support for, modern apprenticeships; and to provide young people with essential information and advice on the opportunities available in their communities. It is a key role of the new sector skills councils in partnership with the LSC to ensure that employers continue to support MA and that they provide sufficient places to meet the demand from young people.

Construction Industry

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to improve the skills base of people entering the construction industry.

Ivan Lewis: The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which is sponsored by my Department, is responsible for ensuring that the construction industry has an adequate supply of properly trained people to meet its needs. It is working on two broad fronts to improve the quality and number of recruits to the industry:
	1. With schools to improve the skills of potential recruits. This includes the development of student apprenticeships, GNVQs and vocational GCSEs, awareness-raising through a network of curriculum centres and a "Young Presenter" Scheme, where young graduates act as role models to young people.
	2. With employers to deliver skills to recruits once they join the industry. This includes the provision of construction apprenticeships, foundation degrees and graduate apprenticeships and the development of models to address the need for basic skills in adults.

Children in Care

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision the Government have made to ensure children in care remain in the same educational institution until the age of 16 years.

Ivan Lewis: The Government recognise that changes in care arrangements can disrupt the education of children who are looked after, and are determined to promote stability.
	This Department, jointly with the Department of Health, issued guidance to all authorities in May 2000 on the education of children and young people in public care. The guidance emphasizes the importance of a stable care and education placement in order to promote educational success for children in public care. The Department of Health also set targets within the quality protects programme to promote stability and reduce placement moves.
	Under S22(3) of the Children Act, local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people who are looked after, education being a critical dimension of their welfare. It is for local authorities to decide on a case-by-case basis whether it is in the best interests of a child in public care to remain in the same educational establishment.

Criminal Records Checks

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many criminal records checks have been undertaken in respect of people applying to work in schools as (a) teachers, (b) governors and (c) volunteers in the current school year; and what has been the cost of checks in each category.

David Miliband: The information requested is not available.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Rights of Way

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she is making on implementation of the rights of way provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Alun Michael: I am today publishing proposals to implement provisions in schedule 6 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act to enable the closure or diversion of rights of way where this is necessary for crime prevention or to promote pupil and teacher safety. These new powers will enable highway authorities to address the disruption caused by persistent criminal activity in back alleys, or gulleys, on housing estates.
	As these important new powers are not regarded as a first response to tackling crime, we will designate areas where the new crime prevention powers will be available. Highway authorities will normally take the lead, working with local crime and disorder reduction partnerships, police authorities, local residents and user groups to formulate a submission to the Secretary of State advocating any area at ward level that may warrant inclusion in a designation order. In country areas, the district authority or the local crime and disorder reduction partnership may be able to make a submission if the county is unwilling to do so.
	The new schools provisions will enable a highway authority to close or divert a right of way, where it crosses school land, for the purpose of protecting pupils or staff from violence or other risks to their health and safety. These provisions are not subject to the designation process and will be available throughout England.
	I am also publishing proposals to implement section 63 of the Act. These new provisions will ensure that members of the public have a means to compel highway authorities to use their powers to remove certain types of obstruction.
	Highway authorities already have specific powers to deal with obstructions and recover costs from the persons concerned. These new provisions will empower the public to directly influence the action taken by authorities in dealing with obstructions.
	The public will be able to initiate action in relation to the majority of obstructions that cause difficulties for rights of way users, such as fences, overhanging vegetation and barbed wire. We are inviting views on any other forms of obstruction that should be covered by the provisions.
	Copies of "Crime Prevention on Rights of Way: Public Consultation paper on the Designation of Areas and Other Procedural Matters", "Enforcement of highway authorities duty to prevent obstructions on rights of way: Consultation Paper on the implementation of section 63 of Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000" have been placed in the Library of the House. Views are invited by 20 September 2002.

Energy Efficiency

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by each energy conservation authority in improving the energy efficiency of the domestic housing stock in its area.

Margaret Beckett: Data reported by energy conservation authorities in England under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 in the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2001 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. These data have also been published on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' website, at address http:www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ energy/heca95/index.htm. Authorities have reported an overall improvement in domestic energy efficiency of 8.12 per cent., as measured against a 1996 baseline.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of whether the PSA target for 2001–02 for improvement in response time for all letters from hon. Members will be met.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 April 2002
	The DEFRA service target is 15 working days. The Department suffered severe disruption last year due to allocating top priority to defeating the foot and mouth epidemic. Furthermore, the sheer volume of correspondence received following the creation of DEFRA had a major impact on the Department's performance, resulting in a large backlog of letters. We have devoted more resources to clearing the backlog and we are making progress in improving response times.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's public service agreement targets in each year since they were introduced;
	(2)  what the (a) cost and (b) saving has been from the Department's pursuit of service delivery agreement targets in each year since they were introduced.

Elliot Morley: The Department's public service agreement sets out the key outcomes it is committed to deliver with the resources provided, and its service delivery agreement sets out the key steps towards delivery of those targets. Every year the Department publishes performance against its targets—including on value for money—and the resources it has used, in its departmental report.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 323W.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Joint Meetings of Management and/or Regulatory Committees dealing with trade mechanisms is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The mandate of the Management Committee on Horizontal Question Concerning Trade in Agricultural Products (usually know as the "Trade Mechanisms Group") is to oversee a number of CAP market support and control measures. The Committee's main role is in connection with the regulations pertaining to the import and export of agricultural products.
	The Committee meets monthly, with the exception of August.
	The UK's usual representation consists of two officials from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). However, officials from other Departments such as HM Customs also attend occasionally, depending on the agenda for the meeting in question.
	Travel expenses of approximately £11,000 for two delegates were reimbursed by the Commission. Other costs, consisting of subsistence allowances and travel expenses for additional officials, are met by the parent agency or Department of those in attendance and amounted to approximately £6,300 over the last 12 months.
	Issues presently under consideration include a number of amendments and clarifications to the main external trade regulations in response to, for example, reports issued by the Court of Auditors.
	Arrangements are in place to report on the Committee's activities through DEFRA, RPA's parent Department. RPA has a range of measures to communicate changes to the regulatory regime to its customers and other interested parties. The activities of RPA generally are subject to scrutiny by various audit bodies, including the National Audit Office.
	The Committee may be regarded as a comitology committee. Consequently, the following points are relevant in regard to increasing its accountability and transparency:
	Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
	As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).
	As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the Standing Committee for Foodstuffs is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The Standing Committee for Foodstuffs was replaced by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health from 21 February 2002. This was in accordance with EC Regulation 178/2002. In total, these committees have met eight times in the year ending 31 May 2002.
	The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (sub-section food and toxicological safety) is a regulatory committee composed of representatives of the member states and chaired by a representative of the Commission. The UK is normally represented by officials of the Food Standards Agency. The annual cost of its work to public funds could be calculated only at disproportionate cost, although travel and subsistence costs totalled approximately £5,000, part of which was reimbursed by the Commission. The committee is currently considering a number of issues including food labelling, the authorisation of food additives, and contaminants in the food chain. Minutes and current agendas of the committee's meetings can be found on the European Commission's website.
	Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to
	"simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
	As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Cm (2001) 783 Final).
	As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on the quality of fresh water is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; whether experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 323W.
	At present there are no plans for the Committee to meet. UK representation varies according to the agenda for each meeting and may include members of the Scottish Executive and other devolved Administrations where there are items of sufficient interest.

Foot and Mouth

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the risk to public health from the long-term storage of meat and bonemeal.

Elliot Morley: In June 1996 the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) issued guidance on the handling, transportation and eventual disposal of waste material from cattle. This covered meat and bonemeal (MBM) and concluded that there was no epidemiological evidence to suggest that this material presented a risk to any of the trades exposed to it, subject to them taking similar precautions to the handling of any dusty material. No risk to public health was identified.
	All MBM generated from cattle slaughtered under the over-30-month slaughter scheme (OTMS) is stored in waste management licensed sites. OTMS MBM is currently being incinerated (with energy recovery) at plants approved by the Environment Agency and it is anticipated that stocks will be significantly reduced within the next two years.

Foot and Mouth

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about her Department's handling of claims for compensation, other than compensation for loss of livestock, arising out of foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: The Department established a unit in May 2001 to handle all miscellaneous claims against the Department arising from the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD). Over 2,000 claims requiring investigation have been referred to the unit which has so far responded with a decision in over 1,800 cases.
	Most of the claims have come from farmers and businesses that were affected in some way by the outbreaks. Their grounds for making a claim against the Department varied considerably. They have included issues raised by farmers who were directly affected by the disease and whose livestock were compulsorily slaughtered, to issues raised by farmers, businesses and other members of the public who said they had been affected by, for example, nuisance caused by carcase disposal operations, loss of business/income as a result of movement restrictions and other losses they attributed to the measures taken to control and eradicate the disease.
	Statutory compensation is paid only in respect of animals which have been slaughtered as a result of the disease; and property, which has been seized or destroyed in order to prevent the spread of the disease. There is no statutory provision for payment of compensation for other losses caused by the outbreaks, and there are no plans to introduce such payments. No Government could commit themselves to insure farmers and businesses against the cost of all the losses resulting, directly or indirectly, from the outbreaks of the disease or the action taken to deal with them.
	We respond to every claim on the facts but are clear that Government cannot be the insurer of last resort nor pay for all losses consequent of FMD.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from how many farms culled during 2001's foot and mouth epidemic samples were taken and tested in a laboratory.

Elliot Morley: Of 10,509 affected premises, 2,370 had samples taken for testing in a laboratory.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from how many of the farms culled as contiguous culls during 2001's foot and mouth epidemic samples were taken and tested in the laboratory.

Elliot Morley: Of the 3,364 contiguous premises and 206 infected premises which previously had a status of contiguous premises, 215 and 167 respectively had samples taken for testing in a laboratory.

Stationery

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by her Department on stationery in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000, (f) 2000–01 and (g) 2001–02; what suppliers were used in each of those years, and how much was spent per supplier, what tender processes were undertaken, and what the frequency was of the processes; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA came into being on 8 June 2001. The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Policy Commission on Food and Farming

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Policy Commission on Food and Farming.

Elliot Morley: At the Prime Minister's seminar on 26 March, we announced a number of early actions being taken, by both industry and Government to deliver the Policy Commission's recommendations. We also launched a wide ranging programme to explore with stakeholders how best to give effect to the Commission's recommendations.
	We have held the first meeting of the contact group of key organisations. The outcomes of regional and sectoral meetings, and the responses to the discussion document 'Sustainable food and farming: working together' are being analysed. All of these will help inform the development of a new strategy for sustainable food, which will include a response to all of the Commission's recommendations. We plan to launch this in the autumn, following the outcome of the spending review.

Ministerial Meetings

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Ministers and officials had meetings with representatives of (a) the Confederation of British Industry, (b) the Engineering Employees Federation, and (c) the Engineering Marine Training Authority during the last year; who they met; and what the subjects and outcomes of their discussions were.

Elliot Morley: Ministers and civil servants have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the process of policy development and analysis.
	As with previous administrations it is not this Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists.

Bovine TB

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from the Scottish Executive in respect of measures to control the spread of the bovine TB virus.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 June 2002
	I have received no representations from the Scottish Executive about bovine TB, but our officials are in regular contact. Officials and stakeholders will be meeting to discuss policy in the near future.

Bovine TB

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has undertaken into possible causes of tuberculosis in cattle other than through badgers.

Elliot Morley: The Government are funding a wide-ranging research programme following advice from the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle Tuberculosis (ISG). The programme extends well beyond the badger culling trial to encompass:
	Pathogenesis of TB in cattle;
	Improved diagnostic techniques;
	Developing vaccine candidates;
	The risk to cattle from wildlife other than badgers; and
	A restocking study making the most of the unique research opportunities following foot and mouth disease and looking at TB in newly formed herds.
	Further details of the research programme can be found in "An Epidemiological Investigation into Bovine Tuberculosis", the third report of the ISG which was published in July 2001. Copies are available in the House Library.

Bovine TB

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will suspend the badger cull until it has been established that badgers are the cause of bovine tuberculosis.

Elliot Morley: Since 1997 there has been a moratorium on the use of badger culling as a bovine tuberculosis control mechanism in GB, except for the culling that takes place under the badger culling trial.
	The Government have no plans to suspend the badger culling trial which is an essential element of the Government's wide ranging research and control strategy for dealing with bovine tuberculosis (TB). The role of the badger in the epidemiology of cattle TB is unresolved and emotive. The purpose of the trial is to evaluate, once and for all, the extent to which badgers contribute to bovine TB and the effects of badger culling on the disease. It will also provide epidemiological data on the occurrence and prevalence of TB in badgers, its relationship to population density and the spatial relationship between TB-infected badgers and TB breakdowns in cattle herds.
	This work will help to ensure that future control policies are underpinned by sound scientific principles and seeks to find ways in which healthy cattle and badgers can live side by side.

Farm Business Tenancies

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to receive the conclusions of the Government's review of farm business tenancies.

Elliot Morley: The review of farm business tenancies forms part of the review of the operation of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 conducted for DEFRA by Plymouth university.
	This work has been completed and the final report has been submitted to DEFRA. A copy is available on the DEFRA website www.DEFRA.gov.uk.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the countries from which meat may be legally imported into the United Kingdom which have endemic foot and mouth disease.

Elliot Morley: The importation of meat is permitted from a limited number of third countries where foot and mouth disease is present and where the veterinary authorities have contained the disease in specified regions. Community rules permit imports from those regions of the relevant countries that are not considered to pose a risk to human or animal health. Fully matured boneless beef, which does not pose an FMD risk may be imported from other regions subject to strict controls and veterinary certification. Countries to which these controls currently apply are Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. UK domestic rules currently prohibit the import of meat from Zimbabwe where FMD outbreaks have been recently confirmed. The UK regulations governing the imports of these products are the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulation 2002.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at which ports amnesty bins have been installed in line with the Government's action plan on illegal animal and plant imports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	We are currently in discussion with HM Customs and Excise and the relevant ports and airports, on the issues surrounding the provision of amnesty bins or equivalent measures to encourage the surrender of unintended illegal personal imports. We hope to be able to pilot measures later this year.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what period she has set for the pilot use of detector dogs to trace illegal meat imports; at which ports the pilot is to take place; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	There will be an initial six months pilot using detector dogs at Heathrow. This is scheduled to begin late summer subject to the successful completion of the training of both handlers and dogs.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish a guide on the roles, responsibilities and powers of the agencies responsible for preventing and detecting illegal imports of animal products.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The production of an information guide on roles, responsibilities and powers of relevant agencies for preventing and detecting illegal imports is currently under way. We are aiming to publish this in the next few weeks. A copy of the guide will be deposited in the House Libraries and will be sent to stakeholder groups and placed on the DEFRA website:http://defraweb/animalh/ int-trde/default.htm.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many targeted sample checks on meat imports have been carried out since the publication of the Government's action plan 2002–03.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	DEFRA have been notified of three checks by enforcement authorities undertaken on illegal meat imports at airports since the implementation of the action plan, at Gatwick on 30 March and at Heathrow on 9 and 15 April. A programme of further targeted checks at airports and seaports designed to provide additional data in support of the risk assessment has been agreed with port health authorities and will be implemented over the summer.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has commissioned since February 2001 into technologies which might help to detect illegal imports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	No specific studies have been commissioned. We are currently seeking to better understand the capability, operational and cost issues of using different technologies, and investigating measures taken by other countries and the rationale behind the choice. This will inform the timing and methodology of any future research.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) titles, (b) membership and (c) terms of reference are of the external stakeholder groups that she has established or plans to establish to assist the Government in strengthening intelligence gathering and sharing of information concerning illegal meat imports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	We have held a meeting with a number of stakeholder groups including local and port health authorities and HMCE.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) the objectives and (b) progress so far achieved in her work with European authorities to clarify and tighten the enforcement of rules against illegal meat imports.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	Over the last 18 months, we have taken a number of opportunities to stress to the commission that EU rules on personal imports of animal products were inadequate and have been pressing for significant revision. Our objective has been to encourage the introduction of rules which are clear and enforceable and which provide effective protection against introduction of disease. The commission tabled a proposal for a new commission regulation on 5 June which will be discussed by all member states shortly. In its current form, the proposal would not meet the UK's objective and we shall be arguing for significant improvements in the discussion.

Meat Imports

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many enforcement officers are in post at each relevant port with powers to search baggage for illegal imports of meat.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	Searches on baggage are carried out by a number of enforcement authorities including HMCE, local and port health officers and DEFRA officials, and current total numbers are not held centrally.

Fallen Stock

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the percentage of fallen (a) calves, (b) adult bovines and (c) sheep that are buried on farms in (i) England and (ii) Wales.

Elliot Morley: The central burial or burning of fallen stock is not permitted except in emergency situations such as the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. We do not collect information on the routine disposal of fallen stock, but the state veterinary service carried out small-scale surveys in the years 1998–2000. The results, which may not be representative, suggest that the following proportions of fallen cattle and sheep were burned or buried on farm in Great Britain over those years; adult bovines ranged from 15–20 per cent.; calves 20–25 per cent. and sheep 65–75 per cent.

EC Animal By-Products Regulation 2000/0259

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is towards the possible introduction of a national fallen stock service following the implementation of the EC Animal By-Products Regulation 2000/0259.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA officials are in discussion with the livestock and disposal industries over future arrangements for the disposal of fallen stock and methods of funding. We hope that a national collection service can be established which will enable all farm businesses to have access to facilities for the off-farm disposal of fallen stock, other than those in the proposed remote areas, where burial on farm will continue to be permitted.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional data is being collected by her Department and its agencies to inform the risk assessment of meat imports being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The progress report on the DEFRA website at http:// www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde describes the data being collected to support the risk assessment.

Veterinary Laboratories Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a report on the results so far of the risk assessment of meat imports being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency;
	(2)  if she will publish a list of the external stakeholder groups which she has established or plans to establish to help inform and guide the risk assessment of meat imports; and if she will state in the case of each group, the names and qualifications of its members and its terms of reference;
	(3)  when the risk assessment of meat imports being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, will be completed; and if she will publish the Agency's report.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The risk assessment currently being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) is due to be completed in autumn 2002. A progress report was placed on the illegal imports page of the DEFRA website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde on 23 May. It is intended to post further progress reports on this site when appropriate and publish the final report.
	A Steering Group has been established to guide the work of the risk assessment which includes representatives of external stakeholder groups. The terms of reference of the Risk Assessment Steering Group and its full membership is published on the risk assessment link on the Illegal Imports page of the DEFRA website—address as above. The VLA team is also consulting a wide range of stakeholders as the work progresses.

Landing Cards

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will conclude her review of possible changes to landing cards.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	Discussions continue with the Home Office and we hope to reach conclusions late summer.

England Rural Development Programme

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the total cost for the three years from 2003–04 of implementing the proposals of the Policy Commission on the future of farming and food for the England Rural Development Programme.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The Policy Commission estimated that implementing its recommendations would cost approximately £500 million over three years. However, the cost of many of the recommendations, including those relating to the England Rural Development Programme, will depend upon the precise way in which they are implemented. The Government intend to produce a Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming in England in the autumn, following a wide-ranging process of stakeholder engagement. This strategy will incorporate a definitive response to each of the Policy Commission's recommendations.

Rural Payments Agency

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the salary is of the chief executive of the Rural Payments Agency.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The chief executive's salary will be published in October in the Rural Payments Agency's annual report and accounts. This will be consistent with the advertised remuneration package of circa £100,000.

Statutory Instruments

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the maximum time scale permitted between the laying of a statutory instrument and its publication (a) on her Department's website and (b) by HM Stationery Office.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Departmental statutory instruments are published in accordance with guidelines laid out in the Cabinet Office publication "Statutory Instrument Practice" (second edition, 1987). Departments arrange physical publication of statutory instruments with Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) and The Stationery Office (TSO).
	HMSO aim to publish statutory instruments on their website (which can be found at www.hmso.gov.uk) within 24 hours of the date of formal publication.
	DEFRA continually aims to publish statutory instruments as early as possible, and publishes most statutory instruments to coincide with the date of laying before Parliament. On some occasions—for example, in implementing emergency measures—it is not always possible to achieve this, as HMSO needs time to typeset the instrument.
	Although all published statutory instruments are published on the HMSO website, the Department also publishes many instruments on its own website at www.defra.gov.uk. In many cases this occurs at the stage of public consultation.

Vessel Monitoring By Satellite

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if it is her policy to support the European Commission's proposal to extend vessel monitoring by satellite to include all fishing vessels down to 10 metres;
	(2)  if she plans to offer financial support to the owners of fishing vessels to cover the costs of complying with the European Commission's proposal to extend vessel monitoring by satellite to all vessels over 10 metres.

Elliot Morley: As yet there are no firm proposals to extend satellite monitoring to all vessels over 10 metres although this is suggested in the Commission's road map to the reform of the CFP. Satellite monitoring has applied to vessels over 24 metres since 1 January 2000 and has made a significant contribution to the effectiveness of enforcement operations across the Community. There are obvious advantages in extending satellite monitoring and we shall need to consider carefully its impact on smaller vessels. It is too early to say whether funding will be available.

Common Fisheries Policy

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish a compliance cost assessment of the impact on the United Kingdom's fishing industries of the European Commission's proposals to reform the Common Fisheries Policy.

Elliot Morley: Regulatory impact assessments will be conducted for all legislative proposals that are likely to have an impact on the United Kingdom's fishing industries.

Serological Testing

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish a record of serological testing carried out by her Department since 1 January 2001, on a regional basis, indicating (a) what animals were tested on each farm, (b) the percentage sample which were taken, (c) the results of the tests taken and (d) what consequential actions were taken.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 17 June 2002
	It is not possible to provide this information as it would involve the disclosure of personal data which are protected by the Data Protection Act 1998. Over 3 million serological tests were carried out, the vast majority for serological surveillance in declaring the Protection Zones (0–3 km) and Surveillance Zones (3–10 km) around each infected premises free from foot and mouth disease. In response to the four specific questions raised:
	(a) erological testing was primarily carried out on sheep and goats.
	(b) The serological surveillance was designed to detect a 5 per cent. prevalence of seropositive sheep with 95 per cent. confidence in each management group on a holding.
	(c) The results of tests are not readily available on a regional basis.
	(d) The consequential action taken depended on the reasons for the serological sampling ie epidemiology, lifting Infected Areas, etc. and the epidemiological assessment of the results.

Funding (Luton, South)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what moneys have been provided (a) directly and (b) via agencies for which the Department has responsibility to the Luton, South constituency since 1997.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA was created on 8 June 2001, and does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis.
	Farmers in the UK receive approximately £2.5 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports, which keeps EU prices above prevailing world prices.
	Consumers in Luton, South, will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.
	The Government are committed to securing a more economically rational CAP. This will benefit both consumers and taxpayers in Luton, South. We aim to redirect public money from agricultural price support mechanisms to rural development measures of benefit to the wider rural community and visitors to the countryside.
	One of the most important outcomes of Agenda 2000 was the establishment of the Rural Development Regulation, which is being implemented in England through the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), investing around £1.6 billion in rural areas over seven years. By supporting rural development, including diversification into tourist activities, and by conserving and enhancing the rural environment through support for 'public' goods such as biodiversity and landscape appearance, the ERDP offers benefits to all who visit the countryside.

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 11 October 2001 from the hon. Member for Torbay on behalf of Mrs. Cawood of Torquay.

Elliot Morley: I am sorry for the delay in replying. This correspondence was transferred to the Food Standard Agency, as they are responsible for the safety of Aspartame.
	As the hon. Member knows, the Food Standards Agency report to Parliament through Health Ministers, and I understand that the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) replied on 15 June 2002.

Timber

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Departments are represented on the interdepartmental working group on timber.

Elliot Morley: The interdepartmental working group on timber procurement is open to participation by all central Government Departments and their agencies. Representation is not fixed as such but the regular attendees are from a core of the departments that volunteered to participate when the group was first set up.
	The following Departments have attended at least one of the seven meetings held to date:
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Ministry of Defence; Department of Health; The Forestry Commission; Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (as was); Department for Education and Employment; Inland Revenue; Office of Government Commerce; Department for International Development; Department of Trade and Industry; Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Cattle Powder

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total costs have been of storing powder resulting from foot and mouth and BSE.

Elliot Morley: Since the commencement of the over-30-month slaughter scheme (OTMS) meat and bonemeal (MBM) storage costs are estimated at £60 million. These costs include those storage costs incurred for the storage of MBM produced as a result of various culls employed to combat foot and mouth disease.

Cattle Powder

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the anticipated schedule is for the final disposal of powder stored in Devon and Lincolnshire.

Elliot Morley: It is anticipated that meat and bonemeal (MBM) currently in store at the sites in Devon and Lincolnshire will be destroyed by incineration (with energy recovery) by the end of 2004.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the questions from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 1 March, Refs. 39938 and 40044.

Elliot Morley: The answers to questions Ref. 39938 and Ref. 40044 were conveyed to the hon. Member on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 889W. The delay that occurred was due to intense pressure of work in the section responsible for providing the necessary information. DEFRA Ministers and staff regret this delay. Revised procedures and additional resources have been introduced to ensure that a better service to hon. Members is provided in future.

Illegal Food and Plant Imports

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantity of illegal food and plant imports was seized at (a) (i) Heathrow, (ii) Gatwick and (iii) Manchester airports and (b) (A) Southampton, (B) Dover, (C) Felixstowe and (D) Liverpool seaports in each of the last three months; and what the nature was of the products seized.

Elliot Morley: We have no records logged for Southampton, Felixstowe and Liverpool seaports. However, enforcement agencies have notified us about the seizures of illegal food and plant imports made at Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick airports and Dover seaport. These are as summarised.
	
		
			  Nature of product(s) seized Month 2002 Total weight in kilograms 
		
		
			 Airport   
			 Heathrow   
			 Beef, shrimp, animal fat, ghee, prawns and abalone, fish (salted and dried), poultry, milk, ready to eat meals, snails February 671.23 
			 Sausage meat, snails, honey, shrimps, dried fish, dairy products March 796.00 
			 Meat, camel, chicken stock cubes, Milo, Ovaltine, honey, fish, duck eggs, shrimp and fish, Milo, dairy products April 203.00 
			 Gatwick   
			 Smoked and salted fish, snail meat, milk drink and sachets, cheese, foie gras February 2,365.00 
			 Milk powder, smoked fish, smoked chicken, hunting trophies, biltong, packet soups, chicken cubes March 1,174.00 
			 Meat, cooked poultry April 135.00 
			
			 Manchester   
			 Lobsters February 4.50 
			 Assorted fish products, milk powder March 43.00 
			 Dried meat April 21.00 
			
			 Port   
			 Dover   
			 Meat—sausages, whole pigs, dairy products, fish February 50.50 
			 Meat—sausage, ham, dried pork, salami, fish, dairy products March 243.91 
			 Meat—ham, bacon, sausage, fish, dairy—cheese April 178.50 
		
	
	It should be noted that illegal meat consignments found arriving at any port will be seized.

Press Releases

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press releases were issued by her Department in each month of 2001.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA was created in June of 2001, our records show a total of 319 press releases between June and December 2001.
	
		
			 Year/month Number 
		
		
			 2001  
			 June 26 
			 July 53 
			 August 39 
			 September 41 
			 October 44 
			 November 68 
			 December 48

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Third World

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she is having with EU Ministers about reforming the EU's policies towards importing goods from the third world; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The UK Government have been working to reduce the tariffs that apply to developing country goods entering the EU. For example, the UK played a central role in establishing the Everything But Arms initiative that will provide the 49 least developed countries with duty and quota free access to the EU for all goods except arms. In addition, the UK is pushing the EU to be as generous as possible in current economic partnership negotiations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries under Cotonou agreement. However, high tariffs remain on many goods of export interest to developing countries. In order to tackle such barriers, a new trade round was launched at the fourth WTO ministerial meeting in Doha in November last year with a pro-development agenda. The meeting resulted in agreement on the need to reduce barriers to trade in all products including agricultural ones. The UK Government are fully committed to making these commitments become a reality.

Rwanda

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the conduct of the Government of Rwanda with regard to Rwandan troops based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Clare Short: DFID maintains regular contact with the FCO at both ministerial and official levels on the whole complex of issues surrounding the Great Lakes conflict, including the issue of Rwandan troops in the DRC.

Southern Africa

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated amount of food aid required by the World Food Programme for the famine in Southern Africa is; and how much has been distributed.

Clare Short: The World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimate that 1.36 million tonnes of food will be required as humanitarian aid for six countries in Southern Africa identified as facing severe food shortages. Existing appeals have enabled WFP to purchase 120,000 of food and to begin distribution in the three countries worst affected.
	This estimate does not include Angola which is being dealt with through a separate UN programme.

Southern Africa

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the World Food Programme's appeal for the famine in Southern Africa has been met; and how much the total UK contribution has been.

Clare Short: The World Food Programme's regional appeal for Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland in respect of the 2002–03 harvest year is expected this week.

Southern Africa

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment of the current food crisis in Southern Africa is, with particular reference to (a) the number of people at risk of famine and (b) the prospects of adequate harvests later in the year.

Clare Short: The Southern African countries identified by the World Food Programme as needing special assistance following reductions in agricultural production are Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. The number of people in these countries requiring emergency food supplies is expected to grow by March 2003 to 12.8 million. Winter crops now in the ground will meet only a small proportion of the food shortfall. Planting of the main maize crop begins in November with the onset of the rains. Prospects for the 2003 crop will largely depend on the amount and distribution of this rain, and on agricultural and economic policy in Zimbabwe where much of this year's shortfall has occurred.

Trade Justice Movement

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with members of the Trade Justice Movement.

Clare Short: We hold regular meetings with members of the Trade Justice Movement and other NGOs to discuss trade and development issues. These include DFID NGO days, the DTI Trade Policy Consultative Forum and informal meetings. The last NGO day was attended by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development.

Asylum Seekers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether UK funds disbursed via the European Union are to be tied to a country's policy towards asylum seekers.

Clare Short: The European Council at Seville will be discussing measures to encourage co-operation by third countries on returns and illegal migration. Her Majesty's Government believe that all inter-governmental relationships should be developed to encourage co-operation on these issues, but that nothing should be done which undermines the need to focus European Union aid on the reduction of poverty.

Environmental Know How Fund

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects by category and the amount spent on them under the Environmental Know How Fund in 2001–02.

Clare Short: In 2001–02, DFID spent approximately £6.675 million on environmental projects in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. This total includes a £2 million contribution from DEFRA. A list of projects and their expenditure in 2001–02 has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

TREASURY

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the total real terms expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non- departmental public bodies on publicity in each of the years (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole of the present year; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (A) advertising and (B) press and public relations.

Ruth Kelly: The available information is given in the following table. The figures relating to the Treasury are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information relating to the publicity is not available for the Valuation Office Agency. It would be inappropriate to give figures for advertising relating to the Royal Mint in accordance with Exemption 13 (Commercial Confidentiality) of the Code of Access to Government Information. Neither the Inland Revenue nor Customs and Excise hire public relations consultancy services, and each has its own press office financed through its normal operational costs.
	
		Costs -- £
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			  Inland Revenue 
			 Advertising 4,576,288 7,677,680 11,742,684 18,966,466 8,652,650 
			   
			  HM Customs and Excise 
			 Advertising 378,000 352,000 339,000 2,888,000 1,312,000 
			   
			  Office for National Statistics 
			 Advertising 3,000 3,000 3,000 1,100,000 1,800,000 
			 Public relations 0 0 0 172,000 73,000 
			   
			  Debt Management Office(16) 
			 Advertising n/a 162,714 261,828 224,396 202,996 
			 Public relations n/a 0 0 0 0 
			   
			  Government Actuary's Department 
			 Advertising 33,000 53,000 50,000 39,000 35,000 
			 Public relations 5,000 6,000 12,000 10,000 12,000 
			   
			  Valuation Office Agency 
			 Advertising 0 0 81,217 39,227 0 
			 Royal Mint 
			 Public relations 84,000 102,553 103,787 104,038 102,000 
			   
			  Office of Government Commerce(17) 
			 Advertising n/a n/a n/a 0 3,878 
		
	
	(16) Launched 1 April 1998
	(17) Launched 1 April 2000
	Inland Revenue advertising costs in 2000–01 reflect the concurrent running of several campaigns, such as working families tax credit, children's tax credit, payroll giving, income tax self assessment and pay as you earn online. Customs and Excise expenditure in the 2000–01 period includes the costs of campaigns following on from the Taylor report and Tackling Tobacco Strategy, as well as a centralisation of the communications budget. Expenditure by the Office for National Statistics in the periods 2000–01 and 2001–02 reflect the cost of publicising the Census.

Departmental Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Reliable estimates for 2002–03 spending to 31 May are not available. Estimated outturn spending figures for 2001–02 can be found in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2002–03, published in May 2002 as Command Paper 5401.

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Ruth Kelly: Special advisers' travel accompanying Ministers was set out in my answer to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) of 1 May 2002, Official Report, column 879W. Advisers have also travelled abroad on seven other occasions, at an average cost of £1,490 per visit, to Madrid, Switzerland, Stockholm, Washington, Toronto and to Paris twice. All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Estate Duty

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce plans to change the rules relating to the payment of estate duty on royal assets; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The inheritance tax arrangements are set out in paragraphs 20 to 23 of the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464) and remain in existence.

Staff Training

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: Expenditure on staff training and development for the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,099,168 
			 1998–99 1,262,368 
			 1999–2000 1,141,469 
			 2000–01 1,517,759 
			 2001–02 1,768,463

GDP

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the relative relevance and importance of (a) real and (b) nominal GDP figures.

Ruth Kelly: Real and nominal GDP growth are linked via the implicit price deflator—the GDP deflator measure of inflation. Low inflation is the essential foundation for securing sustainable improvements in real GDP growth. So it is not meaningful in general to distinguish between real and nominal GDP in terms of relevance and importance.

Credit Card Debt

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 848W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Harris), he will state the equivalent figures for credit card (a) in total and (b) per head for each year since 1996.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 19 June 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on credit card debt which follows on from the answer given to Mr. Harris on 10 June in the Official Report 848W. (62933)
	The information requested is given in the table below.
	
		Amounts outstanding on credit cards at the end of June each year, the resident adult population at the mid point of each year and the ratio of credit card debt divided by adult population rounded to the nearest £10
		
			 Mid year Amount outstanding on credit cards (£ billion) Adult population (million) Credit card debt divided by adult population (£) 
		
		
			 1996 14.2 45.2 310 
			 1997 16.8 45.4 370 
			 1998 20.5 45.7 450 
			 1999 29.5 45.9 640 
			 2000 34.7 46.2 750 
			 2001 39.2 46.5 840

Royal Family (Taxation)

Alan Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which taxes members of the Royal Family are exempt.

Gordon Brown: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The taxation arrangements for Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales are set out in full in the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464) published on 11 February 1993. All other members of the Royal Family are subject to the normal tax rules.

Credit Unions

David Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit unions are registered within the UK; and how many people are members.

Ruth Kelly: At 31 December 2000 there were 861 credit unions registered within the UK, with around 642,500 members.

Credit Unions

David Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of funds loaned in each of the last five years by credit unions in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: Credit unions reported loans outstanding for years ended in:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000 496,621,000 
			 1999 441,410,000 
			 1998 348,507,000 
			 1997 326,919,000 
			 1996 276,084,000 
		
	
	The collated data for 2001 were not yet available.

Credit Unions

David Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action is being taken by his Department to support credit union development in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The Government believe that credit unions have an important role to play to encourage the accumulation of savings, provide affordable credit and, through their unique position, help tackle financial exclusion. That is why we have been involved in a number of measures designed to help the movement develop and grow. In October 2001 we published a consultation document containing seven deregulatory proposals, to which we received a significant number of positive responses. We have now made a consequential amendments order under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) that will bring four of the seven proposals into force on 2 July 2002. We are currently drafting an order under the Regulatory Reform Act 2000 that should bring the remaining three proposals into force later this year. These measures will help credit unions offer their members a greater range of services and compete more effectively for deposits.
	We also used FSMA to bring credit unions under the Financial Services Authority's rule making powers. From 2 July 2002 depositors with credit unions will be given a similar level of protection to that enjoyed by depositors with banks and building societies.

National Statistics

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what statistics have been collected by the National Statistician to determine the rate of self-inflicted death and suicide among (a) members of HM armed forces, (b) police officers and staff, (c) prison officers and staff, (d) firefighting officers and staff and (e) ambulance service staff;
	(2)  what statistics have been collected by the National Statistician to determine the rate of self-inflicted death or suicide, broken down by (a) sex, (b) ethnic origin, (c) occupation, (d) age and (e) religion.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 19 June 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your questions (62652 and 62672) on what statistics have been collected to determine the rate of self-inflicted death or suicide, (1) broken down by (a) sex, (b) ethnic origin, (c) occupation, (d) age, and (e) religion, and (2) among (a) members of HM Armed Forces, (b) police officers and staff, (c) prison officers and staff, (d) firefighting officers and staff, and (e) ambulance service staff. (62652, 62672)
	Numbers of deaths from self-inflicted death or suicide are collected through the registration of deaths. Information recorded at registration includes the cause of death, sex, occupation and age of the deceased. Neither ethnic origin nor religion is recorded at registration. In reporting on these statistics, suicides are routinely defined as deaths from suicide and deaths from 'injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted'. It is likely that most of these latter deaths are cases where the harm is self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves.
	To determine death rates, the number of persons at risk of dying in each relevant category is also required. Annual population estimates, calculated by the Office for National Statistics, are used to provide this information in respect of age and sex. Comparable information about the population in terms of ethnic origin and occupation is available from the Census. Information on religion was collected for the first time in the 2001 Census, the results of which are not yet available.
	Using the information collected, statistics on death rates from suicide broken down by sex and age are published annually 1 . Statistics on death rates from suicide by occupation are routinely published every ten years in decennial supplements. The latest publication 2 includes separate figures for all the occupations listed in the question except for prison officers and staff, who are included within a broader category of 'security workers'. Statistics on death rates by ethnic origin and religion are not yet available.
	1 Office for National Statistics (2001) "Mortality statistics: cause. Review of the Register General on deaths by cause, sex and age, in England and Wales, 2000". Series DH2 no. 27. Office for National Statistics: London.
	2 Drever F (ed.) (1995) "Occupational Health Decennial Supplement". Series DS no. 10. HMSO: London.
	Copies of the above named publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

Cross-border Payments

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to establish an infrastructure for cross-border payments in euros.

Ruth Kelly: Developing cross-border payments infrastructure is the responsibility of the banks. I am aware that UK banks are fully participating in the European banking industry's co-ordinated initiative to produce a single European market for payments, and welcome this action which should improve the current, sometimes poor, level of cross-border payments service which consumers receive.

Cross-border Payments

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of not including sterling in the EU regulation on cross-border payments in euros.

Ruth Kelly: The UK believes a competition-based approach to the problem of market failure in cross-border payments is the right one. The EU regulation could result in banks having to charge less for a service than it costs them to provide and may well give rise to perverse (potentially counter-productive) effects that harm consumers. For example, some banks may withdraw from offering the service altogether, or alternatively attempt to off-set losses made on cross-border payment transactions by increasing the cost of domestic payment costs. Thus, by not including sterling denominated payments in the scope of the regulation, these counter-productive effects are minimised.
	It is too early to quantify the full impact of not including sterling denominated payments in the scope of the regulation. The main aspect of the regulation, article 3, which requires institutions to charge the same for euro cross-border payments as for euro domestic payments, does not take effect until July 2002 and July 2003 for electronic payments and credit transfers respectively. However, we will keep the situation under review.

Curry Report

Helen Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make available the funds to support the implementation of the Curry report proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced, the Government will be producing a new strategy for sustainable farming and food in England in the early autumn, which will incorporate a definitive response to the Policy Commission's recommendations.

Bank Notes

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of the withdrawal of £5 notes announced by the Bank of England on 27 May; by what means he reached the figure; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Following reports that it is possible to remove the serial number from some of the new issue £5 notes, the Bank of England took the precautionary measure of asking the commercial banks and the Post Office to suspend issuance. The Bank is continuing to carry out tests and investigative work on the notes to establish the cause of the fault, how widespread it is and the best way to rectify it. At present it is too early to estimate the potential cost of the exercise.

Divorce

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of marriages have ended in divorce in each of the last 30 years in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Laws, dated 19 June 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on the proportion of marriages which have ended in divorce in each of the last 30 years. (62405)
	Estimates have been made, from time to time, of the proportion of marriages solemnised in a given year in England and Wales which would end in divorce, were the divorce rates to continue unchanged into the future at the levels observed in that year.
	The estimates are as follows:
	1971–73: 22%
	1979–80: 34%
	1987: 37%
	1993–94: 41%

Family Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the percentage of dependant children living in lone-parent families in the UK in each of the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Laws, dated 19 June 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question on the percentage of dependent children living in lone-parent families. (62404)
	Historical estimates of the percentage of all dependent children who live in one-parent families are available from the General Household Survey which covers Great Britain. The proportions—based on three year averages—are as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1971(18) 8 
			 1981 11 
			 1990 17 
			 1991 18 
			 1996 21 
			 1998 23 
			 2000(18) 25 
		
	
	(18) Based on a single GHS year's data only.

Family Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of children in the UK have been born outside marriage in each of the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the proportion of babies born to teenage women in the UK in each of the last 25 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Laws, dated 19 June 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on the proportion of children born outside marriage in each of the last 30 years in the UK , and the proportion of babies born to teenage women in each of the last 25 years in the UK. A single reply has been used to answer your questions. (62403 and 62402)
	The information for the first question is given in the attached table A, and for the second question in the attached table B.
	
		Table A. Number of births outside marriage per 1,000 live births, United Kingdom, 1972–2001
		
			 Year Proportion of births outside marriage 
		
		
			 1972 84 
			 1973 84 
			 1974 87 
			 1975 90 
			 1976 90 
			 1977 95 
			 1978 100 
			 1979 106 
			 1980 115 
			 1981 125 
			 1982 141 
			 1983 154 
			 1984 170 
			 1985 189 
			 1986 210 
			 1987 229 
			 1988 251 
			 1989 266 
			 1990 279 
			 1991 298 
			 1992 308 
			 1993 317 
			 1994 320 
			 1995 336 
			 1996 355 
			 1997 368 
			 1998 376 
			 1999 388 
			 2000 395 
			 2001 401 
		
	
	
		Table B. Number of births to mothers aged under 20 per 1,000 live births, United Kingdom, 1977–2001
		
			  Year Proportion of births to mothers aged under 20 years 
		
		
			 1977 97 
			 1978 95 
			 1979 93 
			 1980 93 
			 1981 89 
			 1982 89 
			 1983 86 
			 1984 86 
			 1985 87 
			 1986 87 
			 1987 85 
			 1988 85 
			 1989 81 
			 1990 79 
			 1991 75 
			 1992 70 
			 1993 68 
			 1994 64 
			 1995 65 
			 1996 69 
			 1997 73 
			 1998 76 
			 1999 78 
			 2000 77 
			 2001 75

Pension Annuities

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the new pension annuities are on an (a) indexed and (b) flat basis, and based on a (i) single and (ii) joint life in the last three years; and what proportion of the stock of pension annuities was in those categories.

Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available.

Tobacco and Alcohol Taxes

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue has been collected from the sale of (a) tobacco and (b) alcohol in each of the last three financial years.

John Healey: Excise duty and estimated VAT receipts from tobacco and alcohol for the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 can be found in HM Customs and Excise "Tobacco" and "Alcohol Factsheets", copies of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	Provisional receipts of excise duty from tobacco and alcohol in the financial year 2001–02 are published in the national statistics publication "Financial Statistics" table 2.1D, a copy of which can be found in the House of Common Library.
	An estimate of the VAT received in 2001–02 from the sale of tobacco and alcohol is not available.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Military Complaints Procedures Report

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to lay before Parliament the ninth annual report of the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures in Northern Ireland.

John Reid: I have today arranged for copies of Jim McDonald's annual report for 2001 to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The Report of the Independent Assessor continues to provide valuable reassurances to both the public and the Government that the Army's complaints procedures stand scrutiny. I welcome Mr. McDonald's report and I shall consider it further.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Electronic Case Management

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if the new electronic case management application will be operational in 2003; and if this application is compatible with other systems in the criminal justice system.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 12 June 2002
	The development of the Compass initial case management system is on track to be operational in 2003. Roll out of the initial system is scheduled to begin in April 2003 and be completed by December 2003. This will include replacing the four different systems currently used by the CPS. The full case management system is due for roll out by December 2005.
	The Compass initial case management system will provide compatibility with other criminal justice systems with specific electronic interfaces to police force systems and via e-mail, to the courts, Prison Service, Probation Service, as well as printed forms to victims and witnesses.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Departmental Expenditure Limit

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: My Department anticipates that for 2002–03 £1.5 million will be accounted for by staff costs; this is approximately one third of the departmental expenditure limit. The equivalent figure for 2001–02 was £1.4 million: the proportion was again approximately one third of the departmental expenditure limit.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

John Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement.

Robin Cook: I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 130W.

Computers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the President of the Council how many computers were replaced in his Department in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost.

Robin Cook: My Department is covered by a contract which is outsourced by the Cabinet Office. The equipment is leased from a service provider (Compaq) who are responsible for replacing all the computers every three years and for their disposal.
	The total cost of this service is £135,000 for the year 2002–03. My Department has 54 computers covered by the contract, of which two are lap-tops.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Mr. Sheikh

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 30 April 2002, Official Report, column 649W, whether the Pakistan authorities have responded to the Government's request for information on Mr. Sheikh's detention; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: As the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), explained on 20 May, we have not yet received a substantive response from the Pakistani authorities to our requests for information. Senior officials at our high commission are pursuing this with their Pakistani counterparts.

Kashmir

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in China concerning strategies for securing a resolution of the dispute over the future status of Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary telephoned his Chinese opposite number on 11 May to discuss India/Pakistan.

Joint Entry Clearance Unit

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's staff are employed in the joint entry clearance unit.

Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently have 42 staff working in UK visas (formerly JECU). In addition the Home Office currently have 32 staff members seconded to UK visas. These details include part-time staff and job sharers.

Entry Clearance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitor visa applications were made on 11 June in (a) Mumbai, (b) New Delhi and (c) Islamabad.

Mike O'Brien: The number of visitor applications received in Mumbai, New Delhi and Islamabad on 11 June were as follows:
	Mumbai—238
	New Delhi—243
	Islamabad—13.
	The figures for Islamabad reflect the fact that the visa section there currently only receives applications via a courier service. This service commenced on 7 June, following a period when the section was closed.

Entry Clearance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many immigration officers were on duty in (a) Mumbai, (b) New Delhi and (c) Islamabad on 11 June.

Mike O'Brien: On 11 June, Mumbai with four UK based entry clearance staff and New Delhi with five UK based entry clearance staff were operating a restricted service providing for settlement applications, urgent medical and compassionate cases and drop-box applications for limited categories of travellers (including previous visitors and returning residents).
	Islamabad had four UK based entry clearance staff engaged on visa work. Two others were deployed elsewhere to assist with urgent consular and evacuation matters, and two were on leave. Islamabad were operating a very limited service, accepting applications through Fedex from returning residents and urgent medical and compassionate cases, including settlement and family visit applications in these categories.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the mandate of the EC-United States of America Joint Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: There is no single EU-US joint committee, but separate joint committees on science and technology, and on education. The joint committee on science and technology met once in 2001. The joint committee on education last met in 1999. In response to the rest of this question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to a series of questions on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 834W.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the mandate of the EC-Canada Joint Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 834–35W.

Turkmenistan

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Turkmen authorities concerning the renewed persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan.

Mike O'Brien: The UK, with the EU and the US uses every opportunity to raise cases of religious persecution with the Turkmen Government. Our ambassador, together with EU and US ambassadors called on the Foreign Minister in February, May, July and December 2001 to protest at the continued imprisonment of a senior Baptist and to call for his release on humanitarian grounds. The prisoner was released two weeks after the December meeting. Our ambassador has also recently requested a meeting with the Turkmen Foreign Minister to discuss religious persecution and other issues.

Asia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what UK diplomatic representation there is in the five central Asian republics; what plans are in hand to improve this representation; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have embassies in four of the five central Asian countries. We opened an embassy in Dushanbe in December 2001 and a drugs liaison officer will be posted there shortly. We also plan to open an embassy in Bishkek in 2003, and a diplomat will be posted to Bishkek to supervise the setting up of the mission. The embassy in Tashkent has been reinforced with a defence attache. We have recently reinforced the embassy in Ashgabat with a drugs liaison officer, and a regional defence attache has been posted to Almaty. These additional resources reflect the importance HMG attaches to relations with the five central Asian republics.

Asia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit the five central Asian republics; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had planned a tour of the region in November 2001, but had to postpone his visit owing to essential operational requirements. The Foreign Secretary hopes to visit the region in due course.

Richard Ward

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  for what reason the Government have not petitioned for conditional bail in the case of Richard Ward;
	(2)  when he expects legal proceedings against Richard Ward in Dubai to be completed;
	(3)  on how many occasions since his arrest consular officials in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have visited Richard Ward;
	(4)  what representations his Department has made to the Government of Dubai about the length of time that Richard Ward has been held in custody without the completion of legal proceedings against him;
	(5)  when his Department will release Richard Ward's file to his representatives in the UK;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on the legal position of Richard Ward in Dubai; and if he remains liable for retransfer from prison in Dubai to Abu Dhabi;
	(7)  for what reason his Department informed Dr. Paul Meconi that Richard Ward's case had been attached to another case and did not give him access to the file of Mr. Ward's case on 13 June;
	(8)  what steps his Department has taken to secure full legal representation for Richard Ward.

Mike O'Brien: As agreed with the hon. Member, a detailed letter addressing his concerns will be sent to him, and be made available in the Commons Library, by 27 June 2002.

Surjit Kaur Athwal

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the support provided to the family of Surjit Kaur Athwal in the search for her as a missing person in India.

Mike O'Brien: We continue to offer Surjit Athwal's family consular assistance. The family of Mrs. Athwal met with Baroness Scotland, then Foreign Office Minister responsible for consular matters, on 5 February 2001 to discuss the case. We have expressed our concerns about Mrs. Athwal's disappearance to the Indian authorities on numerous occasions and at high level. Sadly, even with the help of a British police team the Indian authorities' investigation has yet to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
	We will continue to remind the authorities about this case at every appropriate opportunity.

EU Enlargement

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration is given to resolutions from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in shaping Government policy on enlargement of the EU.

Peter Hain: The key consideration for EU accession is the fulfilment of the Copenhagen political and economic criteria, and the adoption of requisite EU legislation (acquis communautaires). In assessing candidates' readiness for accession, HMG takes into account the candidates' alignment with the acquis and the Copenhagen criteria as well as other relevant sources of information. Some of the Copenhagen criteria cover similar ground to key COE principles: human rights, rule of law and pluralist democracy. All Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) resolutions are brought to the attention of the Governments of all the Council of Europe member states. The resolutions play an important role in ensuring COE member states meet core COE Standards.

Nepal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Nepal concerning the Maoist rebellion; what advice his Department has offered; if he has offered to mediate between the two sides; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We are very concerned about the situation in Nepal. This brutal insurgency by the Maoists is undermining Nepal's young democracy and fragile economy.
	During his visit to the United Kingdom last month, the Nepalese Prime Minister held meetings with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for International Development and my predecessor my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), at which these matters were discussed. We reassured the Nepalese Prime Minister of our full support, while making clear the need for effective action by them on reform and development. We reiterated our commitment to continuing our developmental, political and military assistance to Nepal.
	We are hosting an international conference in London on 19/20 June with the Nepalese Government and representatives from other countries who share our concerns, to discuss how the international community can best co-ordinate its efforts in supporting the people of Nepal.
	We would support the resumption of peaceful negotiations between the two parties and are prepared to lend assistance should the opportunity arise.

Pakistan

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purpose money was allocated to Luton borough council by the European Union, which is now to be spent in Pakistan; and what criteria his Department will use to authorise the spending of this money in this way.

Mike O'Brien: The EC-funded 'Asia Urbs' programme is available for local borough councils to spend on urban development projects in Asia. We understand that Luton borough council is currently considering bidding for £300,000 to spend in 2002–03 on a water treatment engineering project in Peshawar, Pakistan, and that it proposes to fund £50,000 of technical assistance from its own resources. If Luton borough council decides to proceed with its bid and is successful, it will be for the European Commission and Luton borough council to agree upon the detail of the project.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason he has not yet replied to the letter from the hon. Member for Yeovil dated 27 May, regarding visa arrangements for constituents in relation to travel from Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: My officials at UK visas wrote to the hon. Member for Yeovil on 11 June, within their published target of responding to correspondence from Members within 15 working days. I will ensure that a further copy of the letter is forwarded to him urgently.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Land Sales

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the land that his Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Department is currently offering the following land for sale:
	Ashwell, Oakham, Rutland—approximately 0.03 hectares
	Bullwood Hall, Hockley, Essex—approximately 0.25 hectares
	Guysmarsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset—approximately 1 hectare
	Shepton Mallet, Somerset—approximately 2 hectares
	Leyhill, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire—approximately 6 hectares
	Lincoln—approximately 0.10 hectares
	Long Lartin, Evesham, Worcestershire—approximately 0.4 hectares
	Erlestoke, Devizes, Wiltshire—approximately 0.6 hectares
	Swinfen Hall, Lichfield, Staffordshire—approximately 40 hectares
	Blundeston, Lowestoft, Suffolk—approximately 30 hectares.
	The Department has plans to dispose of the following sites over the next 12 months:
	Wandsworth, London SW18—approximately 1 hectare
	Branston, Burton-on-Trent—approximately 30 hectares
	Feltham, Middlesex—approximately 1.5 hectares
	Northallerton, North Yorkshire—approximately 2.5 hectares
	Onley, Willoughby, Warwickshire—approximately 40 hectares
	Littlehey, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire—approximately 30 hectares
	Gartree, Market Harborough, Leicestershire—approximately 2.5 hectares
	Grendon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire—approximately 0.4 hectares
	Channings Wood, Newton Abbott, Devon—approximately 5 hectares.
	The Department is currently offering for sale the following freehold properties which comprise both land and buildings:
	8 Derby Street, Prescot, Merseyside
	Carlisle Workshop, Stanley Way, off Botchergate, Cumbria
	Coalpit Lane, Atherton, Greater Manchester—building floor area 449 sq metres
	Kennedy Way, Yate, Gloucestershire—building floor area 226 sq metres
	Winckley Square, Lancaster—building floor area 300 sq metres.
	The Department plans to dispose of the following freehold land and buildings over the next 12 months:
	Gringley on the Hill, Nottinghamshire—approximately 2.36 hectares
	2a Blake Street, Bridgewater, Somerset—building floor area 820 sq metres
	11a Church Street, Highbridge, Somerset—building floor area 155 sq metres
	31–45 Lower Ashley Rd, St. Pauls, Bridewell, Somerset—building floor area 259 sq metres
	Devon House, 123 Whitehall Road, Easton, Somerset—building floor area 259 sq metres
	1 Stanley Place, Chester, Cheshire—building floor area 650 sq metres
	Lime House, Penrith, Wetheral, Cumbria
	18 Brunswood Road, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire—building floor area 456 sq metres
	2 Siddals Road, Derby, Derbyshire—building floor area 312 sq metres
	Heather House, 11 and 14 Gibbon Lane, Plymouth, Devon—building floor area 1,140 sq metres
	3 Kings Avenue, St. Austell, Bodmin, Cornwall—building floor area 331 sq metres
	57–59 Commercial Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset—building floor area 525 sq metres
	23 Grays Inn Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion—building floor area 227 sq metres
	Francis Thompson Drive, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester—building floor area 412 sq metres
	12 Minshull Street, Manchester—building floor area 1,334 sq metres
	19–20 Gold Tops, Newport, Gwent—building floor area 606 sq metres
	76 Oswald Road, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire—building floor area 230 sq metres
	12–14 Raymond Street, Thetford, Norfolk—building floor area 286 sq metres
	Warwick Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear—building floor area 726 sq metres
	11 Appleton, Newark, Nottingham—building floor area 262 sq metres
	46 Nottingham Road, Mansfield, Nottingham—building floor area 491 sq metres
	11 Newcastle Street and Watson Road, Nottingham—building floor area 172 sq metres
	10–12 Salisbury Street, Shotton, Flintshire—building floor area 221 sq metres
	Abeerhondda Road, Rhonda, Cynon Taff, South Wales—building floor area 756 sq metres
	1–3 Ock Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire—building floor area 370 sq metres
	Langholme, 50 Albert Road North, Malvern, Worcestershire—building floor area 523 sq metres
	Abbeydale House, Abbey Forgate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire—building floor area 469 sq metres
	16 Church Square, Oldbury, West Bromwich, West Midlands—building floor area 284 sq metres
	High Street, West Bromwich, West Midlands—building floor area 250 sq metres
	1–2 Commercial Road, Swindon, Wiltshire—building floor area 593 sq metres
	15 Milton Road, Swindon, Wiltshire—building floor area 570 sq metres.

Charging

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to transfer the charging process for offences from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 13 June 2002
	The recommendation to this effect in the Review of Criminal Courts is under consideration and the Government's response will be announced in a White Paper before the summer recess.

Asylum Seekers

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) deportees and (b) asylum seekers are in prison; and how many were in prison in each of the past five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The latest available information on the number of persons detained in prison solely under Immigration Act powers relates to 30 March 2002 and is as follows:
	Immigration Act detainees as at 30 March 2002
	Total detainees: 145
	Of whom asylum seekers: 100.
	Statistics showing the number of persons detained in prison solely under Immigration Act powers over the last five years is not available.
	The Government are committed to pursuing a strategy of detaining both immigration offenders and asylum seekers in dedicated removal centres. Prisons are used for a small number of detainees who cannot be managed within the immigration removal estate.
	Information on Immigration Act detainees as at 29 June 2002 will be published on 30 August 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html.

Dungavel Detention Centre

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2002, Official Report, column 384W, on Premier Services, when a copy of the service aspect of the contract with Premier Services in connection with the operation of Dungavel detention centre will be placed in the Library.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 18 June 2002
	I have made arrangements for copies of the service aspect of the contract to be placed in the Library this week.

Sexual Offences Review

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to publish a response to the consultation on the review of sexual offences, "Setting the Boundaries: Reforming the Law on Sex Offences"; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: I intend to publish a response to the consultation and the recommendations in "Setting the Boundaries", setting out proposals for legislation in the autumn. At the same time, I shall publish proposals for reform of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 following the review of its provisions and subsequent consultation. I will introduce modernised and strengthened legislation on sex offences and sex offenders as soon as parliamentary time allows.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the questions from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 1 March, Refs 39922, 39933 and 40040.

Nick Brown: Replies were given to the hon. Member's questions on 14 May, 21 May and 17 June.

Regional Organisations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

Nick Brown: The Department for Work and Pensions does not have a regional organisation as such. It is a national organisation covering Great Britain, and operates out of a number of locations around the country. However, the work of three of its executive agencies is organised on a regional basis. The regional structures of Jobcentre Plus, The Pension Service and the Child Support Agency are shown in their Business Plans which are available in the Library of the House, or on the Department's web site (www.dwp.gov.uk).
	Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service were launched as agencies in April 2002 so comparisons cannot be made with 1997. The Child Support Agency organisation remains the same as in 1997.
	Other departmental businesses operate through centres spread across the country, but without a formal regional organisation. Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) sponsored by the Department do not have formal regional organisations. The Independent Living Funds in particular work closely with local authorities.

Truancy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects to consult on the withdrawal of child benefit in respect of truancy.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government is considering a number of measures to combat truancy. We are therefore looking at ways of ensuring parents meet their responsibilities in bringing up their children.

Demographic Statistics

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) women reaching 60 and (b) men reaching 65 in each of the next five years.

Ian McCartney: The available information, which is based on mid-year estimates, is set out in the table:
	
		UK population estimates
		
			   2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 
		
		
			 Women aged 60 332,000 348,000 346,000 350,000 447,000 
			 Men aged 65 273,000 274,000 271,000 256,000 277,000 
		
	
	Source:
	GAD 2000 Based Mid-Year Population Projections

Special Heating Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated costs are of the special heating allowance paid to all pensioners in 2002–03.

Ian McCartney: The estimated cost of winter fuel payments in winter 2002–03 is around £1.7 billion. These payments are made to most people aged 60 or over, not just those in receipt of a state retirement pension.

Basic State Pension

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost would be of increasing the basic state pension (a) for the single pensioner to £120 per week for the over 75s and (b) for married couples to £150 a week for the over 75s in 2002–03.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available shows that the additional cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of a category A, AB or B basic state pension to £120 per week for those aged 75 and over would be £8.4 billion in 2002–03.
	Note:
	The cost is gross and is in cash terms, rounded to the nearest £100 million, based on September 2001 GB administrative data.

Basic State Pension

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 42W, why the practice of up-rating basic state pension increments in line with the percentage increase in the rest of the basic pension was not followed in April 2001; and why the practice was resumed in April 2002.

Ian McCartney: Once retirement pension is in payment, social security legislation requires that the value of all the components of RP must be uprated each year by at least the level of price inflation, which was 3.3 per cent. for the April 2001 uprating. In accordance with that requirement, all increments, including basic pension increments were uprated by 3.3 per cent., while basic state pension was increased by substantially more than the rate of price inflation.
	For the April 2002 uprating we decided that the more generous uprating should also apply to increments.

Basic State Pension

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 880W, on the cost of the basic state pension if increased in line with prices, what assumptions he made regarding (a) fluctuations in the rate of inflation and (b) the incidence of inflation rates below 2.5 per cent.

Ian McCartney: We assumed that fluctuations in the rate of inflation are consistent with predicted inflation from the Treasury Economic Assumptions (of January 2002) until the year 2008, after which we assume long-run inflation is constant each year at 2.5 per cent. Thus inflation rates after 2008 are assumed to never be below 2.5 per cent.
	In addition, the costs take account of our guarantee to increase the basic state pension by at least £100 a year for single pensioners and £160 for couples in the 2003–04 and in future years by 2.5 per cent. or the increase in the September retail prices index, whichever is the higher.

Basic State Pension

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost would be of increasing the basic state pension (a) for the single pensioner to £120 a week and (b) for married couples for £150 a week in 2002–03.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available shows that the additional cost of increasing the maximum rate payable of a category A, AB or B basic state pension to £120 per week would be £17.7 billion in 2002–03.
	Note:
	The cost is gross and is in cash terms, rounded to the nearest £100 million, based on September 2001 GB administrative data.

Pension Funds

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether regulations on stakeholder pensions to require pension funds to spread charges evenly throughout the year will increase the cost of auditing such pension charges; what plans he has to amend these regulations to allow charges to be deducted on an annual or monthly basis; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: One of the key features of stakeholder pensions is the 1 per cent. charge. The calculation of the charge by reference to a daily amount is the best way of taking an average 1 per cent. of the member's fund over a year.
	Although charges have to be calculated as a daily amount, the valuation of the fund, on which the charge is based, can be made on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
	We have no plans to change the rules on the way that the stakeholder charge is calculated. However we are looking at the audit requirements for stakeholder pension schemes, and any changes will be announced in due course.

Means-tested Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs of means-tested benefits, including housing benefit, were for (a) men over 65 and (b) women over 60 in 2001–02.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available shows that cost of means tested benefits to people aged 60 and over for 2001–02 was £10.214 million.
	Source:
	Departmental Report 2002

European Year of Disabled People

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who will sit on his Department's Co-ordinating Committee for the European Year of Disabled People.

Maria Eagle: The following organisations sit on the UK National Co-ordinating Committee for the European Year of Disabled People 2003.
	UK Disability Forum for European Affairs,
	British Council of Disabled People,
	Inclusion Scotland,
	Disability Wales,
	Disability Action Northern Ireland,
	RADAR (representing the Disability Charities Consortium),
	Disability Rights Commission,
	Northern Ireland Equality Commission,
	National Council of Voluntary Organisations,
	Broadcasters' Disability Network,
	Trades Union Congress,
	Confederation of British Industry,
	Federation of Small Businesses,
	Local Government Association,
	The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Northern Ireland,
	Department for Work and Pensions.

National Pensions Systems Plan

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the organisations that he plans to consult in drawing up the national pension plan; and if he will make a statement.

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Ministers from other EU countries about the National Pensions Systems Plan; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations he has received from and discussions he has had with UK organisations representing pensioners regarding the National Pensions Systems Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The Department for Work and Pensions has a range of regular contacts with organisations with an interest in pension provision and plans to use these contacts to ensure appropriate input to the preparation of the UK's national strategy report on the future of pension systems. EU member states have agreed to produce reports by September 2002, as part of an exercise to exchange information and best practice.
	The report will set out measures currently in place and others that are currently planned or under consideration. A draft Joint Commission/Council Report based on the information in the reports from member states will be considered by EU Heads of State and Government at the spring European Council in 2003.
	Representations have been received from organisations representing pensioners about the national strategy report process. They will have an opportunity to contribute to the process through the contacts we are arranging.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the mandate of the Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: holding answer 13 June 2002
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Committee of Senior Labour Inspectors (SLIC) was formally established by the European Commission in 1995 (Decision 95/319/EC) and mandated to give its opinion on all problems relating to the enforcement by member states of Community law on health and safety at work. In the last 12 months SLIC has met once in Belgium and once in Spain during their respective presidencies of the EU.
	Each member state has two representatives. The UK is represented by Mr. Justin McCracken, Deputy Director General (Operations) and Dr. Adrian Ellis, Director of Field Operations both of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
	Travel and subsistence for their attendance of the last two meetings cost £2,320 of which the European Commission reimburses the cost of travel (£940).
	The latest meeting discussed progress with the SLIC work programme including the assessment of health and safety systems in EU and candidate countries, asbestos, the European campaign on health and safety in construction, future co-operation with candidate countries, health and safety aspects related to working time, and SLIC's role in the European Commission's future health and safety strategy.
	SLIC is accountable to the European Commission and submits an annual report on its activities to the Commission with particular reference to any problem relating to the enforcement or monitoring of Community legislation on health and safety at work. The Commission forwards that report to the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work.
	The Advisory Committee produces an annual report which is sent to the Cabinet Office which is then passed to the House of Lords and Commons European Scrutiny Committee; HSE submits an explanatory memorandum to the Scrutiny Committee on the Advisory Committee's report.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Criminal Offences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many criminal offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by his Department since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	A comprehensive and exhaustive list of new and abolished offences could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We can however provide information about the following measures which have been enacted since 1997 by the former DETR and DTLR.
	The Regional Development Agencies Act 1998 created two offences.
	The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 created 14 offences.
	The Water Industry Act 1999 created one offence. The Local Government Act 1999 created one offence. The Greater London Authority Act 1999 created four offences.
	The Transport Act 2000 created 18 offences. The Local Government Act 2000 created three offences. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 created three offences.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much was spent by his Department on paying pensions to retired employees of his Department in 2001–02; if he will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in (a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if he will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if he will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave when I was Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 23 May 2002, Official Report, columns 561–62W.

Press Releases

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each month of 2002;
	(2)  how many press releases were issued by his Department in each month between May and December 1997.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The DTLR was created in June 2001. Figures for the former DETR(c) are as follows:
	
		
			 1997 Number 
		
		
			 May 37 
			 June 85 
			 July 98 
			 August 41 
			 September 2 
			 October 81 
			 November 86 
			 December 87 
		
	
	DTLR (c) has issued 197 press releases in the period from 1 January to 23 May 2002 as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 January 25 
			 February 46 
			 March 57 
			 April 28 
			 To 23 May 41

Correspondence

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the volume of Members' correspondence received by Departments. For information for 2001 I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Clarke) on Friday 24 May 2002 Official Report, columns 674–76W when I was Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office.
	On other correspondence received by Ministers, this information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

External Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much expenditure his Department has incurred in each year since 1997 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of his Department.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Details on expenditure incurred by the former DTLR in the period 1998–99 to 2001–01 on employing external PR consultants are as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			  Department Agencies 
		
		
			 1998–99 0 5,000 
			 1999–2000 683,600 4,300 
			 2000–01 748,900 84,500 
			 2001–02 621,386 13,500 
		
	
	Following departmental changes, DTLR expenditure for the period 1997–98 and expenditure by non- departmental public bodies over the period could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of ordinary written questions for his Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	The information in respect of the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is as follows.
	
		
			   Ordinary written questions  Named day questions  
			 Month Total Answered within a week Percentage of total Total Answered on the named day Percentage of total 
		
		
			 2001   
			 June 172 142 83 38 28 74 
			 July 284 270 95 161 126 78 
			 October 419 347 83 241 154 64 
			 November 721 607 84 394 282 72 
			 December 634 519 82 185 128 69 
			 2002   
			 January 707 499 71 289 199 69 
			 February 653 454 70 241 129 54 
			 March 682 548 80 300 158 53 
			 April 458 400 87 181 105 58 
			 May 323 286 89 152 122 80

Departmental Sponsors

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what the duties are of hon. Members appointed as sponsors to his Department; and what assistance is given by officials in his Department to them in carrying out these duties;
	(2)  which hon. Members have been appointed as sponsors to his Department since 7 June 2001; and when each of them were appointed.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Dr. Whitehead) to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 345W.

Millennium Dome

Chris Grayling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement to dispose of the Dome site.

Tony McNulty: The agreement is commercially confidential. Release of commercial details could affect ongoing discussions with third parties, both before and after planning permission is obtained; and the ability of English Partnerships to secure maximum value for money for the public purse.
	Full details of the agreement are being made available to the National Audit Office.

Parish Councils (Audit)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the cost to parish councils of the internal audit work which will be required to be carried out in addition to the main audit; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: All local authorities have been required to maintain an adequate and effective system of internal audit for many years. We plan to consult later this year on revised Accounting and Audit Regulations which will include proposals to make explicit the need for authorities to follow existing relevant best practice when carrying out their internal audit role.

Social Housing

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new accommodation units have been created by (a) local authorities, (b) registered housing associations and (c) other Government registered housing providers in the form of (i) council houses, (ii) housing association units for rent, (iii) shared-equity properties, (iv) social housing as a conditional proportion of new private sector development and (v) other forms of affordable social housing in each of the past five years for which records are available.

Tony McNulty: Information is collected from local authorities and Registered Social Landlords (housing associations) about the provision of new affordable social housing, which in the case of RSLs includes the acquisition of existing property from the private sector for refurbishment. Completions of rented social housing and shared or outright social ownership schemes as reported by local authorities and RSLs was as follows:
	
		New affordable housing units: England
		
			   1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02(19) 
		
		
			 Local authorities  
			 New-build units for rent 323 194 102 717 n/a 
			 Registered Social Landlords  
			 Units for rent 34,825 33,426 28,825 26,138 25,627 
			 Units for shared ownership/sale 6,958 6,196 4,562 4,635 4,219 
		
	
	(19) Forecast
	Note:
	RSL schemes include 'off-the-shelf' purchases of properties built by private developers. Schemes for rent include additions to RSL stock holdings through acquisition and refurbishment, and as well as temporary social housing schemes such as Mini-Hag and short-life housing. Shared ownership and other sale schemes include DIYSO and HomeBuy.
	Sources:
	LA new build from DTLR Housing Activity return P2 (monthly)
	RSL provision from Housing Corporation Stewardship reports
	Other Government registered housing providers are housing action trusts (HATs) and the arms length management companies (ALMOS). All new units created by HATs have arisen from the major refurbishment of existing, or replacement of demolished, social housing. The small number of recently created ALMOS have not yet created any new units.
	Reliable data about the number of private sector properties directly provided for affordable rent or discounted sale without any form of public funding are not available centrally. Local authorities have been asked to provide summary information on all affordable housing activity as part of this year's housing investment programme (HIP) returns, although on the basis of data first provided last year we believe that they may have under-reported RSL provision.
	Available information reported through the HIP process about planning permissions for affordable housing units, including both low cost market and subsidised housing is as follows:
	
		
			  Granted 
		
		
			 1998–99 14,333 
			 1999–2000 15,543 
			 2000–01 14,768 
		
	
	Information for earlier years was not collected centrally, and is not yet available for 2001–02.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2002 [Ref 59084] from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the format and procedures will be of non-statutory public inquiries into the proposed asylum accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Pursuant to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Beverley Hughes), no planning notifications in respect of the proposed developments have yet been referred to the Secretary of State for determination under the procedures set out in DoE circular 18–84. The circular sets out the various ways in which a dispute between the local planning authority and the developing Department may be determined. These are by means of written representations, a meeting chaired by an official of my Office, or a non-statutory public inquiry. The circular acknowledges that where there is evidence of interest of other parties it may be desirable to hold a non-statutory public inquiry.
	Where the Secretary of State holds a non-statutory public inquiry under the circular, his practice is to follow the procedure in the Inquiries Procedure Rules which apply to local inquiries held into planning applications and appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act. The current rules are the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2000. He would, of course, abide by the principles of natural justice and human rights at all times. After any public inquiry, the inspector would submit a report to the Secretary of State who would then determine the dispute.

Mobile Phone Masts

Archie Norman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the revised Code of Best Practice for mobile phone operators on the development of mobile phone masts will be completed.

Tony McNulty: The Department is currently drawing up, in partnership with representatives of the mobile phone operators and local government, a revised Code of Best Practice on Telecommunications, which will include further advice and best practice on the delivery of telecommunications development.
	We expect the code to be published during the summer.

Housing Debt (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the housing capital debt attributable to the housing revenue account of the City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is (a) in total and (b) per dwelling chargeable to the housing revenue account.

Nick Raynsford: In financial year 2000–01, the latest year for which audited accounts are available, Newcastle- upon-Tyne city council recorded a capital housing debt attributable to the housing revenue account of (a) £290,242,342 in total and (b) £7,927 per dwelling.

Fire Service

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the average years of service with the Fire Service were for firefighters leaving the service in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people left the employment of the Fire Service in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin, (c) natural retirement, (d) early retirement, (e) retirement due to ill health and (f) dismissals;
	(3)  how many people were accepted for employment with the Fire Service since 1997, broken down by (a) gender and (b) ethnic origin.

Nick Raynsford: Tables showing the number of people accepted for, and leaving, employment within the Fire Service for 1998–99 to 2000–01 follow. Information for 1996–97 and 1997–98 is not available. Information on the average years of service for those leaving the service since 1997 is not held centrally.
	
		Number of successful male and female applicants for the Fire Service in England and Wales
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Wholetime
			 Men 980 1,044 1,453 
			 Women 29 59 97 
			  
			 Total 1,009 1,103 1,550 
			 
			 Retained
			 Men 1,486 1,406 1,352 
			 Women 57 85 87 
			  
			 Total 1,543 1,491 1,439 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2000–01, wholetime date are not available for three brigades and retained data for one brigade.
	
		Number of successful white and ethnic minority applicants for the Fire Service in England and Wales
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Wholetime
			 White 993 1,057 1,483 
			 Ethnic Min. 16 46 65 
			  
			 Total 1,009 1,103 1,548 
			 
			 Retained
			 White 1,528 1,467 1,427 
			 Ethnic Min. 15 24 8 
			  
			 Total 1,543 1,491 1,435 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2000–01 wholetime data are not available for three brigades and retained data for one brigade. In the same year, six applicants were of undetermined ethnic origin, two wholetime and four retained.
	
		Number of men and women leaving the Fire Service in England and Wales
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Wholetime
			 Men 1,346 1,298 1,351 
			 Women 7 15 15 
			  
			 Total 1,353 1,313 1,366 
			
			 Retained
			 Men 1,375 1,357 1,376 
			 Women 35 35 52 
			  
			 Total 1,410 1,392 1,428 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2000–01 wholetime data are not available for two brigades and retained data for one brigade.
	
		Number of white and ethnic minority firefighters leaving the Fire Service in England and Wales
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Wholetime
			 Men 1,327 1,305 1,356 
			 Women 26 8 9 
			  
			 Total 1,353 1,313 1,365 
			 
			 Retained
			 Men 1,385 1,383 1,423 
			 Women 25 9 5 
			  
			 Total 1,410 1,392 1,428 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2000–01 wholetime data are not available for two brigades and retained data for one brigade. One wholetime leaver was of undetermined ethnic origin.
	
		Number of firefighters leaving the service in England and Wales by reason for leaving
		
			   Wholetime  Retained  
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Compulsory/voluntary age retirement 449 530 497 195 178 190 
			 Medical discharge 650 590 593 87 81 80 
			 Dismissal on disciplinary grounds 17 10 5 7 3 7 
			 Other reasons 237 183 271 1,121 1,130 1,151 
			  
			 Total 1,353 1,313 1,366 1,410 1,392 1,428 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2000–01 wholetime date are not available for two brigades and retained for one brigade.

e-Government (Local Authorities)

Ian Stewart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to work together in partnership to meet the Government's target for all services to be electronically enabled by 2005.

Nick Raynsford: We are keen to promote and support local authorities in developing local partnerships with each other, and across the public sector. Such partnerships will be crucial in building services around the needs of citizens and customers, and in realising the economies of scale in terms of the investment requirement to see the objectives of e-government realised.
	As part of our commitment to spend £350 million over three years to support local government online, we have made provision for £75 million over the next two years to support the development of e-government partnerships. From this amount we intend to provide some £47 million over the next two years to 64 local partnerships that submitted proposals to my Department. Details of the individual allocations will be placed in the Library.
	We will also provide a £2 million programme of practical support over the next two years, to ensure that these partnerships are successful in achieving their aims and that the lesson learned from them are disseminated.
	It is our intention to make available the remaining funds (£26 million) for further partnership proposals later in the year.
	We will accordingly lay a Special Grant report before the House setting out this intention, in the near future.

Sustainable Development

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role sustainable development will play in regional devolution.

Nick Raynsford: The Government's proposals for the sustainable development role of elected assemblies in the English regions are set out in chapter 4 of the White Paper "Your Region, Your Choice" (Cm 5511), which was published on 9 May. An assembly's overarching strategy will act as the sustainable development framework for the region.

Population Estimate (South Kesteven)

Quentin Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will state the assumptions on which his estimate of the population of South Kesteven for RSG and standard spending assessment purposes is based.

Nick Raynsford: The current RSG and SSA calculations for 2002–03 use the 2000 mid-year estimates of population of the Registrar General as published by ONS in August 2001.
	The ONS mid-year population estimates are based on the Census of Population allowing for the subsequent births, deaths, net migration and aging of the population that has occurred since Census day.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Belfast Agreement (Broadcasting Obligations)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  pursuant to her statement of 7 May, Official Report, column 44, if she will make a statement on the discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about the broadcasting obligations in the Belfast Agreement;
	(2)  what plans there are for the implementation of the broadcasting obligations in the Belfast Agreement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 13 May 2002
	The Belfast Agreement commits the British Government to explore the scope for achieving more widespread availability of Teilifis na Gaelige in Northern Ireland. Discussions with the broadcasting authorities and with the Northern Ireland Office continue, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I will make an announcement in due course, when those discussions are completed.

Departmental Staff

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the pay grades are for officials in her Department.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The pay grades within DCMS are:
	Senior Civil Service (nine pay bands)
	Grade A (U)
	Grade A
	Grade B
	Grade C
	Grade D.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 130W.

Millennium Dome

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether revenues from the sale of the Dome will be given to lottery charities; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The latest position on the Dome sale and the future of the Greenwich peninsula is set out in the written answer of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 1033W by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Planning and Regeneration. The division of proceeds between the New Millennium Experience Company and English Partnerships has not been finally agreed, but a fair split will be established. Once NMEC's liquidation is complete, the company's share of proceeds will revert to the Millennium Commission.

Entertainments Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of the Department's 2001 staff Christmas party; and how many people attended.

Kim Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's 2001 staff Christmas party was held at no cost to the public purse.

Disabled People

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps her Department has taken to ensure libraries are equipped to help visually impaired people access information; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures her Department has taken to encourage the production of accessible books for blind and partially sighted people; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Although my Department does not have a direct remit in terms of the production of books, we are responsible for policy on libraries and are encouraging them to make books accessible to the widest possible audience.
	In 1998 my Department introduced Annual Library Plans (ALPs), a planning framework for the English library authorities. These require library authorities to assess provision needs, and to include discretionary local targets for people with disabilities.
	The Department's Public Library Standards include further targets, which are being developed, for materials of use to people with disabilities. The standards also remind library authorities of their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
	Since 2000 my Department's Public Libraries Challenge Fund has awarded over 234,000 towards the National Library for the Blind's A Touch of and A Touch more projects to improve services in libraries and Resource, the council for museums, archives and libraries, have published a best practice manual. We are also ensuring that the new People's Network and other government ICT initiatives take full account of opportunities to improve such services.

Prize Competitions

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether the investigation into prize competitions will include (a) Women Empowering Women and (b) other gifting schemes;
	(2)  what the remit will be of the investigation into prize competitions under the gambling review; when it will begin; and when it will report.

Richard Caborn: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Vernon Coaker) on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 521W-522W.
	We issued a consultation paper on prize competitions and similar quasi-gambling products, including gifting schemes, on 23 May. It is available in the House Libraries and on our website at www.culture.gov.uk. We intend to reach a view based on this consultation as to whether there is any need for further regulation in this area and, if so, what form it should take.
	We are asking for responses to our consultation by 31 August and will announce our conclusions in due course after that.

School Sports

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what proportion of the 1.1 billion recently announced for sport in schools has been previously (a) allocated or (b) announced;
	(2)  which organisations will be responsible for distributing the 1.1 billion for sport in schools announced on 9 June; and what procedures will be in place to administer its distribution;
	(3)  if she will provide a breakdown of how the 1.1 billion for sport in schools will be distributed and the estimated timescale of the distribution of the money;
	(4)  from which budget heads the 1.1 billion to be made available for sport in schools will be provided.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 18 June 2002
	New investment in school sport announced over the past two years amounts to 1.1 billion. 750 million is being invested by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) across the UK as part of its PE and sport programme, with a view to bringing about a step change in the provision of sporting facilities for young people and for the community generally. This includes a 25 million contribution to the Space for Sport and Arts and 30 million to the Football Foundation. The deadline for stage one applications from LEAswho will be responsible for allocating the funds to deserving projectshas passed, and applications are currently being reviewed by NOF. Decisions on these are expected by the end of the year, at which point work on stage two applications can begin. All programme funds will be committed by the end of 2005.
	110 million is being invested in England on the current phase of the school sport co-ordination programme to meet our target of 1,000 co-ordinators by 2004. These co-ordinators will improve the quality and quantity of sport in schools by creating opportunities for children to participate in more sport, linking secondary and primary schools to improve sport at the latter, developing links between school and sports clubs and increasing out of school hours activities. Funding is made up of 30 million from the Sport England Lottery Fund (SELF), 60 million of grant in aid from DCMS through Sport England and 20 million in England (with another 5 million in the regions) from the NOF Phase 2 Out of Schools Hours Study Support funding. The programme is being administered by Sport England and there will be 742 co-ordinators in place by September. In addition to this, the DfES has so far designated 142 specialist sports colleges, and has set a target of 250 colleges by 2005. With an average investment of 592,000 per college, this amounts to an investment of 148 million by that time.
	The Government is also investing 75 million from the capital modernisation fund in the space for sports and arts (SSA) scheme, with a view to providing greater opportunities for pupils and the wider community in deprived areas to participate in arts based and sporting activities by providing new, or modernising existing, facilities in primary schools. Funding is being made available through a partnership between central Government and lottery distributors, including 25 million from the SELF, 25 million from NOF PE and sport programme, and 5 million from the Arts Council of England, to create a 130 million programme overall. The SSA programme aims to fund around 300 projects. Grant offers were made between October 2001 and March 2002. Completion of the first project is expected shortly, with most of the building work getting under way during the current financial year.

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance for officials in her Department on answering parliamentary questions.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 18 June 2002
	Guidance to officials on answering House of Commons written parliamentary questions was placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 12 April 2002 in response to a request from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell).
	I am arranging for copies of Guidance to officials on answering House of Commons oral parliamentary questions and House of Lords written and oral parliamentary questions to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Museums

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the review of the National Museum of Science and Industry.

Tessa Jowell: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts has today published the first stage report of the review of the National Museum of Science and Industry.
	The report examines the roles and functions of the NMSI, and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DCMS and Governmental objectives. It identifies a number of ways in which NMSI can make a bigger contribution to DfES, DTI and DEFRA objectives.
	The publication of the report marks the end of the first stage of the review. There will be no formal Stage Two process. However, my Department is embarking upon a major study of the collections storage of the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries which should have implications for NMSI.
	A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Museums

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the joint review of the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and the Geffrye Museum.

Tessa Jowell: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts has today published the first stage report of the joint quinquennial review of the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and the Geffrye Museum.
	The report examines the roles and functions of the museums, and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DCMS and Governmental objectives. It confirms that the three museums are contributing strongly to the delivery of the Government's educational and social policy objectives. All three museums have potential to perform a regional or sub-regional role.
	The publication of the report marks the end of the first stage of the review. The second stage will take forward the recommendations of the first stage and consider how the museums' services and functions could be provided more efficiently and effectively in the future.
	A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

TRANSPORT

UK Airports

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the number of people using UK airports over the next 20 years.

Alistair Darling: I have been asked to reply.
	In the Department's last set of air traffic forecasts published in 2000, it is estimated that on central assumptions 401 million terminal passengers will be using UK airports in 2020. This corresponds to an average annual increase of 4.2 per cent. between 2000 and 2020. To reflect the uncertainties inherent in producing such long term forecasts, high and low scenarios were also produced showing projected passenger numbers in 2020 of 461 million and 349 million respectively.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average carbon dioxide emissions per passenger for a flight to (a) Miami, (b) Paris, (c) Tokyo, (d) Manchester, (e) New York and (f) Majorca, from a London airport, in each of the last six years.

Alistair Darling: I have been asked to reply.
	Detailed estimates of the kind envisaged are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and would depend on the aircraft used.

Street Works

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives are (a) in place and (b) planned to ensure that local authorities and highway agencies are incentivised to complete street works as efficiently as possible.

John Spellar: A Best Value performance indicator, BV 100, measures delays due to highway maintenance works on traffic sensitive streets. All highway authorities are required to produce this indicator, and it is published annually. The public can readily compare the performances of the various authorities.
	No further incentives are planned at present.

Street Works

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the powers contained in section 74A of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 will not be made available to all local authorities until a full assessment has been made of the pilot schemes when they are completed in May 2004.

John Spellar: Pilot schemes to test the powers under section 74A of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 began in Camden and Middlesbrough on 4 March 2002. Under these schemes the authorities can charge utility companies lane rental whenever the latter dig up highways to install or maintain their apparatus.
	We appointed consultants (Halcrow) to study the effect of these schemes upon disruption caused by utility works and the costs which it imposes on those utilities. Any decision to extend the use of these powers to all local authorities will be based on a proper consideration of Halcrow's findings. We will also want to consult widely with highway authorities, utilities, regulators and other relevant parties before reaching a final decision.

Street Works

Richard Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fines have been levied on telecommunication companies under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 in each year since the introduction of the scheme.

John Spellar: Powers under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 were activated in April 2001. These allow highway authorities to charge utilities up to 2,000 a day for each of the latter's works which overrun an agreed deadline. We have appointed consultants (Halcrow) to monitor the effectiveness of the new powers and they will be reporting to us later in the summer on the first year of operation of the powers, including details of the charges paid by utilities.

Ministerial Visits (Wales)

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) purpose was of visits by Ministers in his Department to Wales since 1997; and when he next intends to visit Wales.

Alistair Darling: holding answer 17 June 2002
	My Department was formed on 29 May 2002.
	Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. This Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Information in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Railway Track

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the lifetime is of the different types of track used on the rail network;
	(2)  what types of track are used on the Railtrack network, including their technical specifications, with the associated manufacturer; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what technical standards the types of track used on the rail network have to adhere to; and who enforces these standards.

David Jamieson: holding answer 17 June 2002
	These are operational matters for Railtrack.

Traffic Lights

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will publish the (a) guidance and (b) regulations he has given on the construction/erection of new traffic lights (i) at junctions and (ii) for pedestrian crossings; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will publish (a) the guidance and (b) regulations he has given to the bodies responsible for the (i) maintenance and (ii) control of traffic lights; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: There is a wide range of guidance on the construction (including assessment, design and installation), maintenance and control of traffic lights contained in the Highways Agency's Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and in Local Transport Notes and Traffic Advisory Leaflets issued directly from my Department. This covers traffic signals at both junctions and pedestrian crossings. In addition, there is much material on this subject contained in primary and secondary legislation, and also in equipment specifications issued by the Highways Agency. A list of the relevant documents has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The regulations covering traffic signals junctions and pedestrian crossings are The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 and The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997, respectively.

Pedestrian Crossings

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average cost of constructing (a) pelican, (b) puffin and (c) zebra crossings.

John Spellar: Site circumstances can affect the cost of constructing crossings by a substantial amount. However, for the simplest pelican, puffin or zebra crossing the costs would be in the region of 24,000, 27,000 and 7,500 respectively. This would include necessary design, equipment and civil engineering costs for a crossing on a typical 30 mph urban road. It would also include high skid resistance surfacing. For higher speed roads the zebra crossing would not be suitable and an additional cost of 10,000, for additional equipment and works, should be added to the pelican and puffin costs.

Pedestrian Crossings

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average cost of upgrading a pelican crossing to a puffin crossing.

John Spellar: The cost of upgrading a pelican to a puffin crossing will vary from site to site, depending on the number of pedestrian signals to be changed and the number of special pedestrian detectors required. Depending on the age of the installation there may also be a need to change the controller, cabling, posts, etc. However, the simplest conversion would be in the region of 4,000 to 5,000.

Pedestrian Crossings

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the average reduction in traffic speeds resulting from the construction of (a) pelican, (b) puffin and (c) zebra crossings; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The impact of pedestrian crossings on traffic speeds will depend on where the crossings are in the network. It is for local highway authorities to assess effects on the local road network.
	Because many crossings will be located at sites which do not lead to significant interruptions to traffic flow, the impact on overall journey times from such crossings will be minimal.

Rail Track Access Charges

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the increase was in access charges granted to Railtrack as part of the last periodic review carried out by the ORR.

David Jamieson: holding answer 17 June 2002
	Paragraph 8.22 of the Regulator's Periodic Review outlines that the base level of track access charges paid by franchised train operators in 200102 would fall by 11.2 per cent. in real terms in comparison to the 200001 level, then increase in real terms by an average of 4.7 per cent. per annum from 200203 to 200506.

End of Life Vehicles

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will comply with the EU directive on end of life vehicles.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government will transpose the directive once it has decided upon the method of implementation that best suits the UK. Consultations with industry and other interested parties continue, to ensure that all the implications of this complex measure are properly understood. No other member state has yet transposed the directive into national law.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Child Contact Orders

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the targets for each year since 1997 set for the Lord Chancellor's Department to increase the number of contact orders in family proceedings.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department first adopted a target 'to increase continued contact between children and the non-resident parent after a family breakdown, where this is in the best interest of the child', following the 2000 Spending Review. This target has not changed since then. The Department has set up a programme for the delivery of this target, including establishing a baseline for contact and setting up stakeholder groups to look at all aspects of contact, including the safety of both children and their parents.

Child Contact Orders

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent advice the Lord Chancellor has received regarding (a) Articles 12, 3 and 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and (b) the Human Rights Act 1998 in respect of private law cases involving child contact orders.

Rosie Winterton: Advice to Ministers routinely covers the compliance of legislation and policy both with the Human Rights Act 1998 and with international Conventions that the UK has signed or ratified. This includes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Public Guardianship Office

Robert Key: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the target time is for completing cases in the Public Guardianship Office; and in the last year how many cases have been completed (a) on target, (b) in one month, (c) in three months, (d) in six months, (e) in one year and (f) in over one year.

Rosie Winterton: The Public Guardianship Office supervises the finances of the mentally incapacitated. Its involvement in a case is ongoing while the client is mentally incapacitated. Therefore there are no target times for completing cases. The Public Guardianship Office publishes charter standards outlining commitments to service delivery for various aspects of case management including: responding to correspondence, making payments and appointing a receiver.

Child Witnesses

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the policy is of the Court Service on the treatment of children as witnesses in criminal cases.

Rosie Winterton: I understand the hon. Member is concerned about the position in Northern Ireland. The Court Service there gives special consideration to child witnesses in accordance with the Courts' Charter for Northern Ireland. A range of facilities are provided at main court venues including separate child-friendly waiting rooms and live television links that enable children to give their evidence without having to enter courtrooms. The Court Service has also facilitated the work of the Young Witness Service pilot scheme provided by the NSPCC, and will participate in the roll-out of that scheme to additional court venues in due course.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost was in the financial year 200001 of judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings involving asylum seekers.

Rosie Winterton: I apologise for the delay in replying. The cost to public funds of running the Immigration Appellate Authority for the year 200001 was 35.4 million. This does not, however, take account of accommodation costs and costs for court service provided services such as personnel and training. It should also be noted that these costs also cover the immigration work undertaken by the IAA as well as asylum cases.
	Figures are not available for the running costs of asylum cases taken to the higher courts. The High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords do not break down their costs by case type.
	In addition to this, the Legal Services Commission paid out 81.3 million in public funding (formerly known as legal aid) for Immigration and Asylum during 200001. Of this, 4.9 million was paid out for bills relating to representation at the High Court. The remainder (76.4 million) was paid out for Legal Help and Controlled Legal Representation in immigration and asylum matters. The figures on Legal Help and Controlled Legal Representation include cases before the Immigration Adjudicator and Appeals Tribunal, but also include work carried out on cases that completed prior to a hearing (for example a successful initial application).

Magistrates (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  how many people from Warrington, North constituency were serving as magistrates in Warrington (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available;
	(2)  what progress has been made in appointing more people from the Warrington, North constituency to the magistracy in Warrington.

Yvette Cooper: Pursuant to the replies of 12 February 2002, Official Report, columns 66 and 155W, I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising her concerns about the accuracy of those answers. As a result my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) commissioned further checks to be made and I regret to say that the figures given in original answers were not accurate. I apologise to my hon. Friend for the incorrect information she was given. There was no intention to mislead her or the House in so doing. In the preparation of the reply assumptions were made about the course of the constituency boundary which have turned out to be wrong. In the light of the further investigations, 41 per cent. of the magistrates currently serving on the Warrington bench live in the Warrington, North constituency and not 57 per cent.
	As my hon. Friend has stated, the Cheshire Advisory Committee does find it harder to find people in Warrington generally who are prepared to put themselves forward for appointment. The advisory sub-committee for Warrington is working closely with the local council and the press to do all it can to encourage people to put themselves forward. I know that the advisory committee would happily discuss with her any initiatives that she feels might assist, and the secretary of the committee has been asked to contact her to arrange a discussion. I agree with her entirely that it is important that people from all sections of the community throughout an area covered by a particular court feel able and are encouraged to put themselves forward for appointment as magistrates.

HEALTH

Medical Students

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical students have dropped out before the completion of their course in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on non-completion rates for higher education students broken down by subject is not held centrally. For full-time first degree students who began their studies in 199899, the overall non-completion rate for the UK was estimated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England to be 17 per cent. England's completion rate is the second best in the OECD comparative league table.

Medical Schools

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on staffing levels at medical schools in London.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	The staffing levels at medical schools in London and elsewhere are for each institution to determine in the light of its operational needs and circumstances.

Coronary Heart Disease

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he expects his Department to meet milestone 3 of the milestones for hospitals admitting patients for the management of heart failure in the national service framework for coronary heart disease; what additional milestones he plans to set to promote quality of care; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he expects his Department to meet the primary care milestone 3 in the heart failure standard in the national service framework for coronary heart disease; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether his Department has met milestones 1 and 2 in the milestones for hospitals admitting patients for the management of heart failure in the heart failure secton of the national service framework for coronary heart disease; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  whether his Department has met the primary care milestones 1 and 2 on the standard of heart failure in the national service framework; and if he will make a statement on coronary heart disease.

Hazel Blears: Evidence from the primary care and coronary heart disease (CHD) collaboratives suggest that the primary care milestones 1 and 2 of the national service framework (NSF) for CHD are largely being met although we realise that the heart failure element is lagging behind the development of CHD registers more generally. Reports from the former regional offices indicate that hospital milestone 1 has also been met.
	Progress towards the milestones is being monitored locally by strategic health authorities. The national focus has been on monitoring the immediate priorities. These were:
	developing smoking cessation services
	improving ambulance response times to category A calls
	increasing access to thrombolysis in accident and emergency departments for patients admitted following heart attack
	reducing time taken to deliver thrombolysis (reducing door to needle time)
	improving the use of effective medicines after heart attack
	establishing Rapid Access Chest Pain clinics across the country
	increasing the total number of revascularisation procedures.
	We are aware from individual contacts that protocols in both primary care and hospital settings are being developed. However, progress could be patchy as implementation of the NSF for CHD to date has focused on the immediate priorities. In due course, the commission of health improvement will provide an independent assessment of progress, including a specific review of the NSF for CHD.
	With the focus on the immediate priorities, progress in the management of heart failure has not been as rapid as that in other areas. However, heart failure will be one of our key priorities during the middle phase of the overall 10-year NSF implementation programme. We are currently developing more detailed plans for improving services. We will consider whether there is a need for any additional milestones as part of this process.

Osteoporosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of (a) emergency readmissions and (b) delayed discharges as the result of osteoporotic hip fractures in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: Information on emergency re-admissions is available in NHS Performance Indicators: Acute NHS Hospital Trusts and NHS Performance Indicators: Health Authorities which has been placed in the Library. The re-admissions data includes that for patients who received treatment in hospital for a fractured hip, but not specifically relating to osteoporosis.

Alzheimer's Disease (Memory Test)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit Cambridge Cognition Ltd. in order to see a demonstration of the Cantab Paired Associates memory test for Alzheimer's disease.

Hazel Blears: There are currently no plans to visit Cambridge Cognition Ltd. to see the Cantab Paired Associates memory test for Alzheimer's disease. Consideration is being given to the inclusion of a clinical guideline on the management of dementia within the programme of work of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, and such a guideline would cover diagnosis of dementia, including memory tests such as this one.

GPs

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs were registered as working within (a) the Weston area health trust and (b) the Avon health authority in each of the past three years.

Hazel Blears: Information on general practitioners (GPs) is collected and held by primary care trusts (or their predecessor primary care groups and health authorities) rather than by national health service trusts. The number of GPs registered as working within primary care groups and trusts in the Weston area and within Avon health authority in each of the past three years are shown in the table.
	
		General medical practitioners in Avon health authority and its primary care groups 19992000
		
			  1999 2000 
		
		
			 Avon health authority 705 702 
			 Primary care groups   
			 Bath 72 73 
			 Bristol East 43 41 
			 Bristol Inner City 37 37 
			 Bristol North West 88 90 
			 Bristol South 67 62 
			 Bristol South East 42 44 
			 Bristol West 35 36 
			 Greater Wansdyke 60 61 
			 Severnvale 42 37 
			 South East Gloucestershire 91 98 
			 Weston Super Mare 45 44 
			 Woodspring 83 79 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All practitioners include UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and GP retainers.
	2. In 2001, existing primary care groups within Avon health authority merged to become a different set of primary care groups and trusts. It is not possible to 'map' one set with the other.
	3. Data as at 1 October 1999, and 30 September 2000 and 2001.
	Source:
	General and personal medical service statistics.
	
		General medical practitioners in Avon health authority and its primary care groups/trusts 2001
		
			  2001 
		
		
			 Avon health authority 740 
			 Primary care groups and trusts  
			 Bath and North East Somerset 145 
			 Bristol North Cluster 84 
			 Bristol South and West Cluster 74 
			 North Somerset 178 
			 South Gloucestershire 129 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All practitioners include UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and GP retainers.
	2. In 2001, existing primary care groups within Avon health authority merged to become a different set of primary care groups and trusts. It is not possible to 'map' one set with the other.
	3. Data as at 1 October 1999, and 30 September 2000 and 2001.
	Source:
	General and personal medical service statistics.

Sexual Health

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of people below the age of 24 using a condom when engaging in sexual intercourse; what the average age is at which young people in the UK have their first sexual experience; and what percentage of new HIV infections in the UK since 1997 were among people under the age of 24 years.

Hazel Blears: The second national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles (Natsal 2000) provides the best available evidence about current sexual behaviour. It was based on a survey of over 11,000 males and females aged 16 to 44 across Britain.
	Key findings were that 83 per cent. of males and 80 per cent. of females aged between 16 and 19 and 77 per cent. of males and 76 per cent. of females aged between 20 and 24, at the time of interview, reported using a condom at first intercourse.
	The median age of first intercourse among those aged between 16 and 19 at the time of interview was 16, for both males and females. Less than one-third of young people reported having sex before age 16.
	The latest available information from the public health laboratory service shows that the percentage of new diagnoses of HIV in people under 24 years of age was 9.8 per cent. in 1997; 9.3 per cent. in 1998, 9.3 per cent. in 1999; 10.8 per cent in 2000 and 9.6 per cent. in 2001.

ME

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has sponsored into the causes of ME.

Hazel Blears: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease and receives its funding via the Department for Trade and Industry. The Department has asked the MRC to develop a broad strategy for advancing biomedical and health services research on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). The MRC will be appointing an independent scientific advisory group which will include scientists with expertise in areas such as epidemiology, physiology, immunology, infections, clinical trials and psychological medicine. The MRC will be consulting with its consumer liaison group members as to the best means by which patient and charity perspectives can be taken into account.
	The Department has not recently funded any research specifically into the causes of CFS/ME. The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the national health service. However, the Department is supporting research on cognitive behavioural therapy in CFS and on family focused cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome. Recently completed departmental- funded research projects on ME include a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of treatments and interventions for patients with CFS/ME.
	Details of research projects supported through the national health service research and development levy can be found on the National Research Register (NRR) at: www.doh.gov.uk/research.nrr.htm The NRR contains many details of projects/trials funded by the research councils and other funders.

Patient Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will amend the Health and Social Care Act 2001 so that its powers cannot apply to the wider use and disclosure of genetic data without the consent of the patient; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 already provides safeguards to prevent confidential patient data being disclosed unnecessarily and the flexibility to introduce others where appropriate. The patient information advisory group will advise me, following discussion with the Human Genetics Commission, where additional safeguards are necessary.

Patient Data

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to regulate the use and disclosure of genetic data; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Activity in this area is already regulated by the provisions of the Data Protection Act, the Human Rights Act and common law requirements. Where common law requirements are replaced by the regulatory code introduced through section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, there is flexibility to introduce a wide range of restrictions if appropriate. The Government are studying the Human Genetics Commission's report, Inside InformationBalancing Interests in the Use of Personal Genetic Data, and notes that it makes no specific recommendations in relation to the disclosure of medical genetic data.

Regional Organisations

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regional organisation his Department has; and if he will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

David Lammy: The Department's eight national health service regional offices and the counties and unitary authorities they served in 1997 are shown in table 1, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	In 1997, there was no easily definable relationship between the Department's four social care regions and the administrative geography. Details of the relationship are not available centrally and could be compiled at only disproportionate cost.
	From April 2002, the Department has nine public health groups (each led by a Director of Public Health) co-located with the Government offices for the regions and nine offices of the Social Services Inspectorate which are coterminous with the boundaries for the Government offices. The details are shown in table 2, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Heroin

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time has been for a heroin addict in Plymouth to obtain (a) detoxification and (b) rehabilitation treatment in the last 12 months.

Hazel Blears: The average waiting time in Plymouth for a heroin addict to obtain in-patient opiate detoxification is currently four to six weeks, and to obtain an assessment for residential rehabilitation treatment is eight weeks. Waiting times post assessment vary, according to a number of factors, between four and twelve weeks.

CPHPC

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the drug CPHPC in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and adult onset diabetes; and if he will commission further research into the effectiveness of the drug CPHPC in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and adult onset diabetes.

Hazel Blears: There are at present no plans to carry out, through the National Institute for Clinical Excellence or the health technology assessment programmes, an assessment of or research into the effectiveness of the drug CPHPC for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes. We are aware of the development work currently being undertaken and will be very interested in its conclusions.

Alcohol Treatment Services

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his answer of 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 100W, on alcohol abuse, what advice his Department gives to primary care trusts on assessing local needs for alcohol treatment services and on ensuring that those needs are met through commissioning services.

Hazel Blears: Primary care trusts are responsible for securing health services for their local population and are accountable to strategic health authorities for discharging their functions effectively, including their commissioning responsibilities. In addition, the national primary and care trust development programme was established last year to support the organisational development of primary care trusts.
	Primary care trusts will be expected to honour existing agreements (financial and otherwise) previously negotiated by regional specialised commissioning groups and other specialised service commissioners. In 200203 regional specialised commissioning groups will also have a specific role in developing primary care trust capacity to commission specialised services as part of a planned transition to successor arrangements.
	It is important to ensure that primary care trusts provide high quality public health services. Each primary care trust will have a director of public health and a multi- disciplinary health team whose focus will be on improving health and tackling inequalities. This will help to ensure that primary care trusts are well placed to assess and meet local need for alcohol treatment services.

Natural Health Products

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health upon what basis the Medicines Control Agency included in its Regulatory Impact Assessment of the European Traditional Herbal Medicines and Products Directive the statement that for many retailer, herbal remedies currently constitute a relatively limited proportion of shelf space; with whom they consulted before presenting this statement; and what calculations they have made of the percentage of turnover such products represent for a typical specialist health food retailer.

Hazel Blears: During preparation of the partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA), the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) visited a number of retail outlets, including health food shops, pharmacies and supermarkets. The Agency's broad assessment was that, typically, herbal remedies often form part of a wider range of products including for example, vitamins, minerals, other nutrients, organic food and a varied range of other herbal products that would not be classified as medicines. Clearly the proportion of shelf space allocated to herbal remedies varies significantly as between different retailers.
	The partial RIA is currently under consultation and the Agency would welcome quantified information from retailing interests about the proportion of overall sales which relates to over the counter herbal remedies, that is remedies where the active ingredients are herbal only.
	The MCA continues to receive feedback from key organisations in the herbal sector, such as UK manufacturers of traditional herbal remedies, that the introduction of the standards proposed in the directive is necessary if the long-term prosperity of the sector is to be maintained.

Natural Health Products

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations the Medicines Control Agency has had with (a) the National Association of Health Stores, (b) Consumers for Health Choice, (c) Holland  Barratt Retail Ltd., (d) General Nutrition Centres and (e) other representatives of the specialist health food sector and its consumers, prior to producing its Regulatory Impact Assessment of the European Traditional Herbal Products Directive.

Hazel Blears: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has had a wide range of discussions with a large number of interest groups from the herbal sector during development work on the proposed directive on traditional herbal medicinal products. Among those involved have been representatives of manufacturers, retailers, consumers, herbal and other complementary medicine practitioners, pharmacists and a range of individuals with relevant expertise. Interest groups from the health food sector taking part have included the National Association of Health Stores, Consumers for Health Choice, the Health Food Manufacturers's Association (HFMA) and the Institute of Health Food Retailing. In addition to meetings instigated by the MCA, the agency has participated in various conferences and meetings organised by external parties, such as the HFMA and the herbal registration forum, to discuss the implications of the emerging proposals. These discussions continue.

Computers

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many computers were replaced in his Department in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost.

David Lammy: In the last three financial years the Department has replaced the following numbers of personal computers:
	700 personal computers in 19992000.
	1,543 personal computers in 200001.
	654 personal computers in 200102.
	Figures for individual offices are not available for financial year 19992000. For the following two financial years, figures for the Department's regional offices are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of PCs replaced 
		
		
			 200001 site  
			 South East and London regional offices 190 
			 Eastern regional office 64 
			 North West regional office 106 
			 Northern and Yorkshire regional office 138 
			 South West regional office 94 
			 Trent regional office 80 
			 West Midlands regional office 62 
			   
			 200102 regional office  
			 South East and London regional offices 67 
			 Eastern regional office 18 
			 North West regional office 7 
			 Northern and Yorkshire regional office 11 
			 South West regional office 20 
			 Trent regional office 29 
			 West Midlands regional office 21 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures exclude any replacement of equipment not funded from central departmental budgets.
	Disposal
	The Department normally disposes of personal computers to commercial companies who formally bid for, refurbish and resell the equipment, or break it down for spare parts. Successful companies have included OCM Business Systems Ltd., Metro Systems Ltd., and Computer Disposal and Recycling Ltd. The Department obtains a small income from this process.
	Whenever practicable and bearing in mind the condition of the equipment, the Department also gives a small number of redundant personal computers to schools and charitable organisations.

Diabetes

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Government funding has been allocated to research into the causes of diabetes in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Baillieston (Mr. Wray) on 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 783W.

Diabetes

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources he is making available to fund the National Service Framework for Diabetes; how those resources will be allocated; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 12 June 2002, Official Report, columns 134041W.

Gonorrhoea

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is carrying out into treatments for gonorrhoea; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Appropriate antibiotic treatment should cure all uncomplicated gonococcal infections. However, increasing antimicrobial resistance undermines the effectiveness of treatment and means that the range of drugs available to treat the disease is reduced. We are funding a three-year project, the gonococcal resistance to antimicrobials surveillance programme (GRASP), to develop a national network to systematically monitor levels of antimicrobial resistance in England and Wales.
	This enhanced surveillance programme provides a range of data that cannot be obtained from current surveillance systems and a means for more detailed monitoring of disease epidemiology. In addition, the clinical data and outcomes provide a mechanism for monitoring quality of clinical care, adherence to antibiotic prescribing policies and treatment guidelines.

Chlamydia Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the national chlamydia screening programme will be operational across the country;
	(2)  if he will publish the results of the pilot chlamydia-screening programmes in Portsmouth and the Wirral; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: A report on the chlamydia screening pilots in Portsmouth and the Wirral will be published this summer. The pilots showed that this form of screening was acceptable to the target group and the professionals with 75 per cent. uptake among those offered screening and 95 per cent. of those diagnosed returning for treatment.
	The national strategy for sexual health and HIV commits to beginning a programme of screening for chlamydia for targeted groups in 2002. The first 10 screening sites are currently being selected, and will be approved shortly. The pace of the roll-out of the programme across the country will depend on the availability of resources, trained staff and equipment, and cannot be precisely predicted at this stage.

Coronary Care

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether primary care trusts are obliged to wait for NICE guidance on drug eluting stents before allowing their use in patients.

Hazel Blears: The absence of guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) does not prevent the national health service using new drugs or technologies. Standing guidance to the NHS says specifically that they should not wait for NICE guidance, but should in the interim, make a local decision about whether to fund particular interventions on the basis of the available published information.

Coronary Care

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made an assessment of how the use of drug eluting stents will contribute to revascularisation targets set out in the national service framework on coronary heart disease.

Hazel Blears: The Department referred drug eluting stents to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) on 20 May 2002. NICE will provide evidence-based advice on their appropriate use, and at that time an assessment can be made of how drug eluting stents will contribute to revascularisation targets set out in the national service framework on coronary heart disease.

Coronary Care

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restenosis rate is associated with the use of bare stents in the UK.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect data relating to the restenosis rate associated with the use of bare stents in England.

Coronary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the relative cost effectiveness of the (a) coronary artery bypass graft for coronary heart disease and (b) percutaneous coronary intervention; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The Department has made no assessment of the relative cost-effectiveness of coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In general, PCI is a less expensive procedure. It is a less invasive procedure for the patient allowing for a quicker recovery and requiring a shorter hospital stay. The decision as to which procedure is appropriate is a clinical one based on an assessment of the individual patient, and for patients who are not suitable for PCI, coronary artery bypass graft may be the only appropriate intervention.

Coronary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the average number of bed days for recovery from percutaneous coronary interventions in the last year for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The average post-operative duration of stay for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 200001 was two days. This figure is based on finished consultant episodes. There will be a small number of patients who may be transferred to another consultant following the operation, which is not reflected in this average.

Residential and Nursing Care

Calum MacDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total income to local authorities that resulted in the last 12 months from including war widows' pensions when calculating charges for the cost of residential and nursing care under the National Assistance Regulations; and how many people paying charges under the regulations are affected.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Stents

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients per million population benefited from the use of stents in (a) the UK and (b) each other EU country; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect data on the number of patients who received stents. In 200001, the number of percutaneous transluminal artery angioplasties carried out in national health service hospitals in England was 25,698. It is estimated that about 80 per cent. of these procedures would have included the use of stents.
	Figures from other European Union countries are not available on a directly comparable basis. Information about operations undertaken in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of their own Administrations.

Stents

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NICE will complete its assessment on drug eluting stents; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is responsible for determining the detailed timetable for the appraisal topics referred to it. We have not yet been informed when its guidance on drug eluting stents will be available.

Stents

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the provision of drug eluting stents; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has received no representations regarding the provision of drug eluting stents.

Stents

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how many patients would benefit from the use of drug eluting stents; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use of stents in May 2000. This guidance is due for review in April 2003. The Department referred drug eluting stents to NICE on 20 May 2002.
	NICE will provide evidence-based advice to the national health service in England and Wales on the clinical and cost effectiveness of drug eluting stents compared to 'bare' stents, and on their appropriate use.

Stents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost benefit analysis his Department has undertaken of bare stents compared to drug eluting stents.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 June 2002
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use of stents in May 2000. This guidance is due for review in April 2003. The Department referred drug eluting stents to NICE on 20 May 2002.
	NICE will provide evidence-based advice to the national health service in England and Wales on the clinical and cost effectiveness of drug eluting stents compared to 'bare' stents, and on their appropriate use.

National Endometriosis Society

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to restore relief and research funding to the National Endometriosis Society;
	(2)  on what date relief and research funding for the National Endometriosis Society was withdrawn.

Jacqui Smith: The National Endometriosis Society will receive 10,000 from the Department in 200203 as a contribution towards the cost of its core activities. This is the final year of a three-year grant. In the autumn the society will be given the opportunity to apply to have the grant renewed from April 2003.

Drug Users (Treatment and Rehabilitation)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action the Government are taking to increase investment in drug rehabilitation services in Somerset; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many units there are in Somerset providing residential rehabilitation for drug users; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on waiting times from GP referral to initial consultation for users of illegal drugs in Somerset.

Hazel Blears: The Government are committed to the improvement of drug rehabilitation services. In Somerset the overall budget for treatment rose from 2.383 million in 200102 to 2.71 million this year. Nearly 400,000 of new money is being spent on treatment this year alone.
	Information on waiting times from general practitioner (GP) referrals to initial consultation is not collected centrally. I am, however, advised by Dorset and Somerset health authority that Somerset GPs generally refer patients to Somerset drugs services, which is managed by Somerset Partnership national health service and social care trust. Waiting times vary across the county but action has been taken to improve access to services, including funding this year for two nursing posts, one each side of the county, to focus particularly on improving waiting times.
	There is one residential drug rehabilitation unit in Somerset. However, Somerset social services department contracts to use services in neighbouring counties as and when needed.

Drug Users (Treatment and Rehabilitation)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of drug and addiction consultancy posts are vacant in England at the latest date for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Department's Vacancy Survey (March 2001), lists figures for general psychiatry. There were 130 vacancies, with a 7.8 per cent. vacancy rate. This survey does not have a more specific breakdown of vacancies (for example figures for consultants with an interest in substance misuse).

Nursing Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the deadline of 8 April for the reassessment of preserved rights of residents in nursing homes was met.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 10 May 2002
	The social services inspectorate is monitoring the progress local authorities are making in assessing the care needs of people who were subject to the preserved rights arrangements. Information on the number of residents who have been reassessed is unlikely to be available centrally until July this year.
	There may be cases in which local authorities were unable to complete care assessments by 8 April. In these circumstances, authorities are liable to pay for the resident's existing private arrangements with the care home until they are in a position to provide community care services formally. Subject to means, they can recover all or part of such a payment from the resident.

Ministerial Visits

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) date, (b) location and (c) purpose was of visits by Ministers in his Department to Wales since 1997; and when he next intends to visit Wales.

David Lammy: holding answer 17 June 2002
	My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State (Mr. Frank Dobson), attended the Festival of Science conference at Cardiff on 7 September 1998.

Antipsychotic Medication

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken on the trend in prescribing of antipsychotic medication; what the key findings are; and if he will set out prescription numbers for such medication for each region and health authority for 2001 for age groups (a) 0 to 15 years, (b) 16 to 59 years and (c) 60 years and over.

David Lammy: holding answer 16 May 2002
	Prescription numbers for antipsychotic medication for each region and health authority for 2001 for age groups (a) 0 to 15 years, (b) 16 to 59 years and (c) 60 years and over are shown in the table.
	Preliminary proposals for research to support the development of the national service framework for older people and older people's treatment and care including research proposals on the prescribing of antipsychotic medication were received in March 2002. These are currently being peer reviewed and short-listed, and decisions will be taken later this year about which research to commission.
	
		Estimate number of prescription items dispensed in the community in England for all antipsychotics by broad age group by health authorities and regions, 2001 -- Thousands
		
			 Health authority Children age 015 years Elderly people age 60 and over Aged 16 to 59 years Exempt Items personally administered Charged(20) Total 
			  
		
		
			 Eastern Region   
			 Bedfordshire 0.3 20.5 16.6 4.6 0.1 42.0 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 0.5 29.5 23.5 7.6 0.2 61.3 
			 Hertfordshire 0.5 37.8 28.2 10.4 0.1 77.0 
			 Norfolk 0.4 38.9 47.4 9.9 0.4 97.1 
			 North Essex 0.5 36.5 30.3 7.7 0.1 75.2 
			 South Essex 0.5 24.1 22.3 5.1 0.0 52.0 
			 Suffolk 0.4 32.6 20.9 6.3 0.3 60.4 
			 Total for Eastern Region 3.0 219.9 189.2 51.5 1.3 464.9 
			
			 London Region   
			 Barking and Havering 0.2 14.3 11.5 3.5 0.0 29.5 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 0.2 32.4 34.5 6.6 0.0 73.6 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 0.2 25.1 19.2 5.3 0.0 49.8 
			 Brent and Harrow 0.0 13.3 19.5 3.8 0.0 36.6 
			 Camden and Islington 0.1 8.9 25.1 2.7 0.0 36.8 
			 Croydon 0.0 13.1 15.8 2.8 0.0 31.7 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 0.2 21.0 30.6 5.6 0.0 57.3 
			 East London and the City 0.2 14.7 36.2 3.4 0.0 54.6 
			 Hillingdon 0.1 6.2 6.8 2.0 0.0 15.1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster 0.0 8.9 15.8 2.7 0.0 27.5 
			 Kingston and Richmond 0.1 12.9 9.1 3.4 0.0 25.5 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 0.3 26.4 34.0 4.0 0.0 64.6 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 0.2 23.5 23.3 5.3 0.0 52.3 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 0.3 14.9 17.1 3.0 0.0 35.3 
			 Total for London Region 2.1 235.6 298.4 54.1 0.0 590.3 
			
			 North West Region   
			 Bury and Rochdale 0.1 21.2 24.6 4.9 0.0 50.7 
			 East Lancashire 0.3 25.1 30.3 5.4 0.0 61.1 
			 Liverpool 0.2 24.0 36.6 3.4 0.0 64.2 
			 Manchester 0.2 24.1 43.6 3.2 0.0 71.1 
			 Morecambe Bay 0.1 21.1 15.3 3.8 0.1 40.3 
			 North Cheshire 0.1 14.4 18.0 3.6 0.0 36.2 
			 North West Lancashire 0.0 27.2 27.3 6.0 0.0 60.7 
			 Salford and Trafford 0.2 31.7 31.0 4.5 0.0 67.5 
			 Sefton 0.0 17.7 21.6 3.2 0.0 42.5 
			 South Cheshire 0.2 32.0 26.7 6.7 0.0 65.6 
			 South Lancashire 0.2 12.3 10.5 3.5 0.0 26.5 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley 0.1 18.3 24.9 3.8 0.0 47.1 
			 Stockport 0.1 23.8 19.9 4.6 0.0 48.5 
			 West Pennine 0.1 20.1 22.9 3.6 0.0 46.7 
			 Wigan and Bolton 0.1 30.7 25.3 5.1 0.0 61.3 
			 Wirral 0.1 16.8 25.6 3.9 0.0 46.5 
			 Total for North West Region 2.2 360.7 404.1 69.4 0.2 836.6 
			
			 Northern and Yorkshire Region   
			 Bradford 0.1 22.5 24.7 4.1 0.0 51.4 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 0.3 28.1 24.0 5.3 0.0 57.8 
			 County Durham and Darlington 0.3 31.3 29.1 5.4 0.1 66.2 
			 East Riding and Hull 0.1 26.9 25.6 5.3 0.1 57.9 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 0.3 17.9 16.3 2.9 0.0 37.4 
			 Leeds 0.3 35.6 41.0 8.0 0.0 84.8 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 0.3 28.8 31.0 4.2 0.0 64.4 
			 North Cumbria 0.2 14.6 14.2 3.8 0.1 33.0 
			 North Yorkshire 0.5 32.0 21.5 6.9 0.2 61.2 
			 Northumberland 0.2 12.9 12.9 2.7 0.1 28.8 
			 Sunderland 0.1 11.0 11.0 1.8 0.0 24.0 
			 Tees 0.3 26.0 27.8 3.8 0.0 57.8 
			 Wakefield 0.1 17.2 15.7 3.4 0.0 36.3 
			 Total for Northern and Yorkshire Region 3.2 304.8 294.8 57.5 0.6 660.9 
			
			 South East Region   
			 Berkshire 0.2 26.1 23.8 7.8 0.1 58.0 
			 Buckinghamshire 0.3 22.7 19.4 6.2 0.1 48.7 
			 East Kent 0.7 25.7 27.0 5.1 0.1 58.5 
			 East Surrey 0.0 16.3 10.5 3.7 0.0 30.4 
			 East Susex, Brighton and Hove 0.4 37.9 37.7 7.2 0.1 83.2 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 0.1 35.3 26.2 6.7 0.1 68.4 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 0.6 22.2 15.7 6.5 0.1 45.1 
			 Northamptonshire 0.5 20.5 21.6 6.4 0.0 49.0 
			 Oxfordshire 0.3 22.0 15.8 6.5 0.2 44.8 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 0.4 27.0 22.8 7.0 0.1 57.3 
			 West Kent 0.5 34.0 33.4 9.5 0.1 77.6 
			 West Surrey 0.4 22.0 16.4 6.6 0.0 45.5 
			 West Sussex 0.3 40.0 24.5 7.8 0.1 72.6 
			 Total for South East Region 4.8 351.8 294.8 86.9 0.9 739.2 
			
			 South West Region   
			 Avon 0.3 42.5 41.4 8.4 0.1 92.7 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 0.5 20.8 23.7 4.1 0.2 49.4 
			 Dorset 0.3 33.1 24.5 6.4 0.1 64.5 
			 Gloucestershire 0.4 20.1 20.4 6.8 0.1 47.8 
			 North and East Devon 0.6 22.7 21.4 4.9 0.2 49.8 
			 Somerset 0.4 19.4 15.2 3.3 0.1 38.5 
			 South and West Devon 0.7 30.8 36.2 5.2 0.2 73.0 
			 Wiltshire 0.3 26.6 20.3 6.4 0.1 53.7 
			 Total for South West Region 3.5 215.9 203.1 45.6 1.1 469.2 
			
			 Trent Region   
			 Barnsley 0.1 10.3 8.2 2.6 0.0 21.1 
			 Doncaster 0.2 12.2 12.5 2.7 0.0 27.6 
			 Leicestershire 0.2 32.1 35.2 7.3 0.1 74.8 
			 Lincolnshire 0.7 32.4 23.4 7.8 0.2 64.5 
			 North Derbyshire 0.1 17.7 15.2 3.1 0.0 36.2 
			 North Nottinghamshire 0.1 18.3 11.5 3.0 0.1 32.9 
			 Nottingham 0.1 22.1 17.3 5.0 0.1 44.6 
			 Rotherham 0.1 23.3 11.5 1.8 0.0 36.7 
			 Sheffield 0.3 20.6 21.5 4.2 0.0 46.6 
			 South Humber 0.3 14.2 14.2 3.2 0.0 32.0 
			 Southern Derbyshire 0.3 24.1 18.2 4.9 0.0 47.5 
			 Total for Trent Region 2.4 227.2 188.8 45.5 0.5 464.5 
			
			 West Midlands Region   
			 Birmingham 1.4 40.8 55.3 6.7 0.0 104.3 
			 Coventry 0.2 14.3 16.7 3.2 0.0 34.4 
			 Dudley 0.2 13.2 12.5 3.5 0.0 29.4 
			 Herefordshire 0.2 6.2 6.4 1.4 0.1 14.2 
			 North Staffordshire 0.2 22.4 16.9 5.0 0.0 44.6 
			 Sandwell 0.2 11.7 11.8 2.4 0.0 26.1 
			 Shropshire 0.3 18.4 15.0 3.9 0.1 37.6 
			 Solihull 0.2 6.3 6.1 1.8 0.0 14.3 
			 South Staffordshire 0.4 25.6 16.0 4.8 0.1 46.9 
			 Walsall 0.1 14.6 11.6 2.2 0.0 28.4 
			 Warwickshire 0.3 22.2 16.8 5.4 0.1 44.7 
			 Wolverhampton 0.1 11.6 10.8 1.6 0.0 24.0 
			 Worcestershire 0.6 23.8 14.9 3.7 0.1 43.2 
			 Total for West Midlands Region 4.3 231.2 210.8 45.6 0.4 492.3 
			 England 25.6 2,147.2 2,083.9 456.2 5.1 4,717.9 
		
	
	(20) Charged prescription items include those where a charge was made at the point of dispensing and where a patient has a pre-payment certificate.
	Notes:
	1. The analysis of the data for non-charged categories is based on a one in 20 sample of all exempt prescriptions submitted to the Prescription Pricing Authority by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, and dispensing doctors. Personally administered items are free of charge.
	2. Antipsychotics are defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 4.2.1, antipsychotic drugs.